【By Observer Net, Qi Qian】

The "willingness alliance" led by the UK and France, consisting of 30 countries, plans to take action on Ukraine's security issues.

French President Macron has repeatedly proposed sending troops to Ukraine after the war. However, Italian Prime Minister Meloni refused to join.

According to AFP and French Info Radio, on August 22, it was reported that on the 21st, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini stated that if Macron supported sending European troops to Ukraine as part of a security force, then Macron could put on a helmet and "go himself".

A diplomatic source revealed on the 22nd that after Salvini "mocked" Macron, France summoned the Italian ambassador.

Photo of Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini

The report said that on the 21st, when asked about the issue, Salvini categorically denied the possibility of Italy sending troops to Ukraine.

"Italian soldiers in Ukraine? Absolutely not," Salvini said. "If Macron wants to, he can go there himself. Put on a helmet, pick up a rifle, and fight in Ukraine."

It was reported that the next day, the Italian Ambassador to France, Emmanuela D' Alessandro, was summoned by the French Foreign Ministry due to Salvini's remarks.

This source said that the French Foreign Ministry rejected these comments, calling them "unacceptable." "At the same time, the Italian ambassador was reminded that these comments violated the atmosphere of trust and historical relations between the two countries. This also contradicts the current situation of high integration emphasized by both sides, especially in their firm support for Ukraine."

According to the report, Salvini's right-wing party, the League, is a member of the Italian ruling coalition. Previously, Salvini has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with France's support for Ukraine, accusing Macron of being "crazy" and dragging "Europe into a war with Russia."

Last June, Salvini strongly criticized Macron. At that time, Macron made frequent statements urging the West to send troops and deploy weapons to Ukraine, even supporting Ukraine using Western weapons to strike targets within Russia.

"Macron, do you want to start a war? Then put on a helmet, wear a bulletproof vest, and fight in Ukraine yourself. But don't disturb Italians, don't disturb us people who want to live in peace," he complained. He also posted a meme of Macron on his personal social media, showing the French president as a soldier wearing combat gear.

Screenshot of Salvini's personal X account

UK Prime Minister Starmer and French President Macron led 30 countries to establish the "willingness alliance" for Ukraine, planning to deploy peacekeepers and provide security guarantees to Ukraine.

Macron said in February that he did not rule out the possibility of NATO and other allies sending troops to Ukraine. After the Paris summit of the "willingness alliance" in March, Macron mentioned that a team composed of the UK and France would be sent to Ukraine to study and develop a model for sending troops to Ukraine in the future.

However, NATO and several French allies have subsequently clarified that they ruled out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Meloni warned that care should be taken with France and the UK's proposals for "peacekeeping personnel," as Russia may view this initiative as a threat.

Notably, Macron's remarks have also sparked criticism in France. The leader of the largest opposition party in France, the National Front, Marine Le Pen, once condemned Macron's statement as "reckless," "putting the lives of citizens at risk."

Early August, Macron held a video conference of the "willingness alliance" Visual China

Russian TASS mentioned that just as France and Italy had another diplomatic dispute over sending troops, the "willingness alliance" re-raised the issue of Ukraine's security. On the evening of August 19, the alliance held two meetings, discussing the content of the US-Russia Alaska Summit and the Washington meeting on the 18th, and discussing how to ensure Ukraine's security after the conflict.

On the 18th, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zarakhova called on the UK not to hinder negotiations between Russia and the United States. Zarakhova stated that the UK is not interested in mediating the Ukraine situation but is trying to prolong the bloodshed. Zarakhova also said that any presence of NATO forces in Ukraine in any form is unacceptable and will lead to an escalation of the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on the 20th that Russia supports providing reliable security guarantees to Ukraine, but at the same time warned that discussing this issue without Russian participation is "a dead end." He pointed out that if it is an equal security guarantee plan involving the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, the US, the UK, and France, Russia would accept such an arrangement.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541729407712215567/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion below using the 【Like/Dislike】 buttons.