Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto affirmed that Italy will not send soldiers to fight in Ukraine against Russian forces.
Responding to a question about statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron hinting at the possibility of sending troops to Kiev in the near future, as reported by the Italian news agency AKI, Crosetto stated, “There were no Italian soldiers in Ukraine and no one will go there at all.” He clarified that Italy is not waging war in Ukraine against the Russian Federation but is assisting a country that requested help.
He pointed out that what the French president assumed about sending troops to Ukraine would be tantamount to waging war against the Kremlin, and that assisting Ukraine is a means to avoid getting involved in a war between Russia and NATO.
Poland had announced plans to establish a military helicopter base near Ukraine, with Polish Defense Minister Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamish stating, according to the Polish news agency, “In a step to enhance national security and economic growth, Poland plans to establish a permanent military helicopter base at Lublin Airport in the southeast of the country near the border with Ukraine.”
Polish officials stated, “This initiative is part of wider cooperation between the Polish Ministry of Defense and the Lublin region, aimed at enhancing military presence in eastern Poland and supporting the region’s development.”
The new base, currently in the final stages of negotiation with local authorities, is expected to house various military helicopters, with their types to be determined later based on the needs of the Polish armed forces.
