Diplomatic incident between Paris and Rome has been sparked by statements by Italian Vice President Mateo Salvini about French President Emmanuel Macron, against the backdrop of a disagreement over the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine.

The French Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Italy’s ambassador to France, Emmanuela D’Alessandro, citing “unacceptable statements,” according to a French Foreign Ministry source in Quai d’Orsay.

“The ambassador was reminded that these statements contradict the climate of trust and the historic relationship between our two countries, as well as recent bilateral developments,” the “strong convergence of the two countries, in particular regarding the firm support for Ukraine, the source at the French Foreign Ministry clarified, confirming information from France Inter radio station.

“Here he goes” with a helmet and a rifle

Asked while in Milan about the possibility of deploying Italian troops to Ukraine if hostilities cease, something France and Britain plan to do, Matteo Salvini replied that since Emmanuel Macron wants it so badly, “he can go,” putting on a helmet and taking a rifle.

The head of the Lega party, an ally of French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen, had already called the French president “crazy”in March, accusing him of pushing Europe to go to war with Russia.

France and Britain, leading an “alliance of willing” countries, intend to send troops to Ukraine, as a security guarantee to prevent a resumption of hostilities if a cease-fire or peace agreement is reached between Kiev and Moscow. However, Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni rejects the possibility.