"We will not send Italian soldiers to fight in Ukraine and we will not authorize the use of Italian weapons to strike Russians outside Ukrainian territory. We are not at war with Russia; we defend Ukraine's right to independence and freedom". Thus spoke Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in an interview with Rai3 TV broadcast. "Our weapons, including air defense weapons," Tajani continued, “will have to be used to protect Ukraine inside Ukrainian territory. This does not mean that we do not want to support Ukraine. We are very determined to defend Ukraine's independence. We work strongly for de-escalation, we do it in Ukraine and we do it also in the Middle East”. Regarding the Gaza crisis, Tajani said, "The first thing Italy is doing is to send both food and medical aid, including a number of tents and an advanced field hospital, through the 'Food for Gaza' project". "It is a project," Tajani continued, “that we are carrying out with the FAO, the World Food Program, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, and also with the support of our Civil Defense. The first cargo has left; by air to Jordan and then from there, through the open crossings, it will reach the Palestinian population. We are doing this with the support of both the government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. Because Italy is able to talk to both to help the civilian population. Then there will be another route of food and sanitation aid, which will leave from Italian ports to Cyprus and then, with the humanitarian corridor, from Cyprus to Gaza always by sea”.
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