Kuleba, Di Maio respond to those criticizing arms supplies to Ukraine
The two top diplomats spoke, responding to a question from an Italian journalist at a joint briefing in Kyiv.
"The Russian invasion of Ukraine raised the question of whose side you are on. There is no position in-between. If you want to support Ukraine, then you support Ukraine's resistance, providing it with financial and defense assistance," Di Maio said.
The head of the Italian Foreign Ministry noted that Russian propaganda is currently trying to make people believe that the reason for the high energy prices lies with the sanctions introduced against Russia.
"But we understand that it is Russia that is blackmailing Europe over the gas issue. That is why we, together with united Europe, are fighting for the introduction of restrictions on gas prices, as well as diversification of supplies," said Di Maio.
Summing up, the head of Italian diplomacy expressed hope that such critical statements will remain only statements because "one cannot be both on the side of freedom and on the side of autocracy."
"We, as the Italian government, have decided to be on the side of freedom," the foreign minister emphasized.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, in turn, added that it is necessary to speak frankly: those people who use various arguments to criticize arms supplies to Ukraine are actually saying the following: "Don't give arms to Ukraine, let Russia win as soon as possible. We don't care how many Ukrainians die, how many people are tortured and raped, how many cities are destroyed. We want Russia to win, and we are ready to accept the new reality that will emerge after this victory."
Kuleba added that anyone who opposes the supply of weapons to Ukraine, no matter their arguments, is actually advocating the victory of evil over good, of Russia over Ukraine.
In his opinion, these people should not be allowed to lead everyone into an endless debate on this issue.
"If they look ahead, let them say what they mean, and they mean exactly what I said," Kuleba summed up.
As reported, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio left the 5-Star Movement in June in protest against the party's decision not to support the resolution on assistance to Ukraine.
