Another controversy between Russia and Italy, once again Moscow lashes out against Rome. The appointment of the former Ukrainian Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as consultant to the Italian Ministry of Defense is what has ignited things. The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, branded it as “very ridiculous” and worthy of a satirical fable by Gianni Rodari. Minister Crosetto’s reply was not long in coming and was sharp.
Moscow against Rome
“If Gianni Rodari were alive I think he would write a satirical fable about this, but I’m not sure it would be funnier than the true story,” Zakharova said during a briefing, quoted by the Tass agency. But it didn’t end here. “It seems symbolic – continued the spokeswoman for Russian diplomacy – that innovation in Italy will be managed by a man who, in a recent interview, recognized the absolute ineffectiveness of his own department, declaring that he believes that the efficiency of the Ukrainian state system is approximately 5%. This is a perfect example of how Westerners use Ukraine and Ukrainians. While ordinary citizens are mobilized in the trenches in Ukraine to face certain death, the managers of the Kiev regime are converting military defeats into personal international contracts, and they are not ashamed of it.”
Crosetto’s reply
Crosetto’s reply was not long in coming: “I understand that they would prefer that the choices for Italy could be made by someone who consults Moscow first, but for now this is not yet the case and we think only of Rome and not Moscow, Kiev or Washington”.
The head of the Defense then chooses sarcasm to end the controversy (but not too much): “There is something positive: if you have read Rodari, which I doubt, you will have understood that we don’t want to end up like the mouse that ate cats and therefore we also need experience in the field. But I doubt that you or our compatriots, who wanted to set things in motion with your message, want to accept it, because they would want us to be weak and defenseless.”
Fedorov’s appointment
Fedorov is not an “ordinary” former Ukrainian minister: he is the man symbol of the technological revenge of Kiev’s drones in the war against Moscow. The farewell to the Ukrainian government came because it was in contrast with Zelensky’s line. He had also called for new elections.
He becomes a consultant for the Italian Defense to provide support in the field of military innovation after rejecting requests from other states. Drones, air defense and remotely controlled or autonomously guided systems were the topics at the center of the first meeting with Crosetto.
Fedorov’s appointment
Fedorov is not an “ordinary” former Ukrainian minister: he is the man symbol of the technological revenge of Kiev’s drones in the war against Moscow. The farewell to the Ukrainian government came because it was in contrast with Zelensky’s line. He had also called for new elections.
He becomes a consultant for the Italian Defense to provide support in the field of military innovation after rejecting requests from other states. Drones, air defense and remotely controlled or autonomously guided systems were the topics at the center of the first meeting with Crosetto.