Moscow: ‘Fedorov’s appointment to the Italian Ministry of Defence is ridiculous’. Crosetto: ‘Decisions made with Rome in mind’
Trump: ‘Russia at the G20? We get on well with everyone.’ The Ukrainian capital continues to be the target of Russian attacks
The war in Ukraine is spilling over in various directions. Moscow is responding to a decision taken in recent days by the Italian government. The appointment of former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as an adviser to the Italian Ministry of Defence is “utterly ridiculous” and worthy of a satirical fairy tale by Gianni Rodari, said the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has responded to Zakharova’s comments. ‘I understand that they would prefer decisions for Italia to be made by someone who consults Moscow first, but for now that is not yet the case, and decisions are made with Rome in mind, not Moscow, Kyiv or Washington. However, there is one positive aspect: if you’ve read Rodari – which I doubt – you’ll have realised that we don’t want to end up like the mouse that ate the cats, and so practical experience is also needed. But I doubt that you, or our compatriots – whom you sought to mobilise with your message – would be willing to accept this, because you would have us appear weak and defenceless.”
US President Donald Trump’s remarks yesterday, in which he expressed an openness towards Russia regarding Moscow’s representative at the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in North Carolina, were significant. “We like to get on well with everyone. One of the reasons I’m so successful is that I get on well with everyone,” said Trump from the Oval Office, responding to questions about the Russians’ presence at the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville.
Whilst America is extending a hand of friendship, there is greater unease in Germany. According to information from *Bild*, the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport was allegedly an attempted attack ordered by Moscow. According to the newspaper’s report, the trail of the drone carrying explosives is believed to lead to a Russian intelligence service. This is what Bild has learnt from sources within security circles. Until now, the German federal government had refrained from directly attributing responsibility for the events in Leipzig. Chancellor Friedrich Merz had, however, already announced that the investigations were nearing completion.
And there is no shortage of fresh tensions over the possible spread of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to the Baltic States. According to reports by the Estonian national broadcaster ERR, a number of drones triggered a night-time air raid alert in Latvia and subsequently entered Estonian airspace, where NATO fighter jets from the Baltic Air Policing Mission continued to search for them. The news has been reported by press agencies in both Baltic countries.
