Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on
Sunday continued his Christmas tour of Italian troops stationed
abroad, visiting armed-service personnel engaged in the NATO
Baltic Guardian operation at Camp Adazi, in Latvia.
"There are 7,000 troops who will spend this Christmas abroad and
thousands who will spend it away from home in Italy," said
Crosetto, who visited Italian troops stationed in Malbork,
Poland, on Saturday.
"We are visiting contingents that are thousands of kilometers
away, but in Italy there are military personnel who will spend
Christmas (on duty) at train stations and on the streets to
ensure our safety.
"I have come here today to testify to the closeness of the State
and the Republic to those who serve it and make family
sacrifices to do so, even in the most beautiful moments, such as
Christmas".
Crosetto also had talks in Riga with his Latvian counterpart
Andris Spruds in which the two discussed the importance of
guaranteeing military, financial and humanitarian support to
Ukraine.
The minister expressed scepticism when asked about reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin was interested in a ceasefire
in Ukraine.
"The messages that have come from Russia over the last two years
have often been contradictory," he said.
"Until I hear Putin say that he wants a truce, that he wants to
ceasefire, I won't believe it.
"Then, instead announcing it, I would like there to be 24, 48 or
72 hours of no missiles falling on the heads of Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers.
"I'll believe in a truce when the bombs stop falling".
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