Overview

• Paris called in Ambassador Emanuela D’Alessandro after Matteo Salvini’s comments were deemed unacceptable by the French Foreign Ministry.
• France said the remarks were contrary to the climate of trust and to the two countries’ recent bilateral convergences on support for Ukraine.
• Salvini told Emmanuel Macron to go to Ukraine himself, using a Milanese phrase to insult him and saying, “put on the helmet, the vest, the rifle and go to Ukraine.”
• The League leader reiterated his opposition to deploying Italian troops, presenting it as his stance in his roles as deputy premier, minister and party secretary.
• ANSA highlighted Salvini’s repeated public attacks on Macron and noted he also praised Donald Trump’s approach while deriding what he called Macron’s “macronate,” including ideas for a European army and common debt.