Susanna Riva On October 17, 2026, at the Ministry of Defense in Rome, Guido Crosetto addressed Washington's recent statements regarding the possible suspension of satellite assistance to Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, the minister called the measure a "complete mistake, a grave mistake," emphasizing the inconsistency of the American decision.
According to Crosetto, depriving Kiev of access to satellites and intelligence flows would compromise the country's ability to respond, altering the entire military balance of Eastern Europe.
Its position is part of a broader framework of Western cooperation, in which Italy intends to maintain a constant line of support.
Crosetto's criticism of the American proposal to block satellites
The minister stressed that Washington's decision makes no strategic sense: "If the United States limits resources to Kiev, Russia will perceive weakness and believe it can advance."
He added that this approach risks turning a stalemate into a continuation of a full-scale invasion.
In his argument, Crosetto emphasized that peace will only come when Vladimir Putin recognizes that he can no longer pursue further offensives. Blocking satellites , in his view, amounts to creating a vulnerability that the Kremlin could exploit to prolong the conflict.
Impacts on the war and Italy's commitment
Guido Crosetto assured that Italian military support will remain active as long as the current government is in office. However, he warned that parliamentary authorization for new supplies could become more complex as the upcoming elections approach, making further aid operations more difficult.
The minister recalled Moscow's atrocities: the use of tanks on sovereign soil, the bombing of hospitals, schools, and power plants, and the killing of civilians for four consecutive years. He called these actions "evil" and reiterated the need for Western support , including orbital observation technologies, to ensure Ukraine's defense.
Disinformation, cyber attacks, and incidents in Italy
Crosetto attributed part of the public skepticism to a disinformation campaign orchestrated by Moscow, aimed at influencing political figures and spreading narratives that weaken resistance to Russia. He explained that it's difficult to convince those struggling with daily challenges, like rising gas prices, that blocking aid to Russia is necessary to protect their interests.
Hundreds of cyber attacks daily
The minister also noted that Italy suffers "hundreds of cyber attacks every day," underscoring the constant pressure of the war, even on domestic soil. He clarified that, unlike other allies, Italy has not been subjected to significant sabotage; the fire at a weapons depot near Rome in August was described as "the result of stupid negligence" rather than a malicious act.