Overview

• France’s foreign ministry called Matteo Salvini’s remarks “unacceptable” and said they undermined trust and recent Franco‑Italian alignment, especially on support for Ukraine.
• At an event in Milan, Salvini told Emmanuel Macron to “put on a helmet, grab a rifle and go to Ukraine” and used a local phrase telling him to “hang yourself on the tram.”
• Italian ambassador Emanuela D’Alessandro was summoned to the French foreign ministry, with the meeting set for Thursday, according to diplomatic sources.
• The spat followed Macron’s signaled willingness to consider sending troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government affirms support for Ukraine but has repeatedly said Italy will not provide soldiers for any European peace force.