France summons Italian envoy after deputy PM mocks Macron – media

Matteo Salvini has ridiculed the French leader’s calls for Western troops in Ukraine, suggesting he should “hop on a tram” and go himself

France has summoned Italy’s ambassador following “unacceptable” remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini about President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to send troops from EU members to Ukraine, French media has reported, citing a diplomatic source.

Salvini suggested on Wednesday that the French leader should go himself.

Macron, who this week called Russian President Vladimir Putin “an ogre at [Europe’s] gates,” has repeatedly floated the idea of a “reassurance force” to be deployed to Ukraine, despite strong opposition from Russia and a lack of support among other EU leaders. He again raised it this week after a summit with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, and other European heads of state in Washington, claiming Ukraine would need a “strong army” and Western boots on the ground when the conflict ends.

Speaking to reporters in Milan, Salvini responded mockingly. “Hop on a tram and go to Ukraine yourself… Put on a helmet, a jacket, grab a rifle, and go,” he quipped. “If Macron wants, he can go – but I think he’ll go alone, because not even a Frenchman would follow him.”

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The remarks drew ire from Paris. According to Italian media, Rome received at least two protest calls on Thursday – one from the French Embassy and another from Macron’s entourage – deeming Salvini’s words “unacceptable.” AFP reported on Friday that Italian Ambassador Emanuela D’Alessandro had been formally summoned by the French Foreign Ministry.

“The ambassador was reminded that these remarks went against the climate of trust and the historical relationship between our two countries,” a French diplomatic source was quoted as saying. Neither government has officially commented on the summons.

Salvini has repeatedly criticized Macron for his hawkish stance. Earlier this year, he called the French president a “madman” who wanted to drag the EU into war with Russia. He has also praised Trump’s efforts to mediate peace, saying in Milan that he “is succeeding where everyone else has failed: bringing Putin and Zelensky back to the table.” Salvini also stressed that no Italian troops would be deployed to Ukraine.

READ MORE: NATO deployment in Ukraine ‘unacceptable’ – Moscow

Moscow has condemned the idea of any Western troop presence in Ukraine. Russian officials have warned such a deployment would be treated as occupation and could trigger a third world war.