Italy may well debate Ukraine, but it must not forget the Russian threat. Il Foglio’s appeal against Putinism

Aid, defence, diplomacy: all are legitimately open to debate. But sabotage, cyber-attacks, covert operations and external pressure must not become part of normal Italian political debate. To sign the appeal: [email protected]

2 OCT 26

Translated by AI

Image of Italy may well debate Ukraine, but it must not forget the Russian threat. Il Foglio’s appeal against Putinism

Italy is free to debate its own decisions regarding Ukraine: the amount and nature of aid, defence spending and diplomatic initiatives. But one thing should take precedence over any divisions: recognising the nature of the threat.

Across Europe, there has been a rise in acts of sabotage, covert operations, cyber-attacks, airspace violations and destabilisation campaigns attributed to or linked with Russia. These events must be taken seriously. No foreign power can expect to influence Italy’s democratic choices through intimidation, threats, disinformation or psychological pressure. Italian foreign policy is decided in Italy, freely and democratically. A firm stance against hostile actions and the pursuit of peace are not mutually exclusive. We can call for more diplomacy without downplaying the threats. We can discuss how to support Ukraine without confusing democratic debate with external pressure.

To sign Il Foglio’s petition: [email protected]