Italy denies use of Sicily airbase to US aircraft carrying weapons for Iran
Italy has denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military aircraft transporting weapons for the conflict in the Middle East.
A source at the Italian defence ministry confirmed that “some US bombers” were scheduled to land at Sigonella, a significant US Navy installation and NATO base, before proceeding to the Middle East.
Under treaties signed in the late 1950s, the US Navy is permitted to use the base for logistical and training purposes but not as a transit hub for aircraft transporting weapons for war unless in emergency situations, which require parliamentary approval.
The source indicated that the US had only requested permission to land the aircraft while en route to Sicily, thus not following the procedures that mandate parliamentary authorisation. The exact timing of the planned landing remains unclear, but the source noted there was insufficient time to seek parliamentary approval.
For several days, Sicilian politicians from Italy’s left-wing opposition parties have urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to clarify the situation at Sigonella amid increased activity at the base since the onset of the Iran war. They have also called on the government to prevent the US from using Italian bases for involvement in the conflict. Italy hosts seven US Navy bases.
France refused Israel use of airspace to transfer US weapons for Iran war – report
has reported additional details regarding France’s decision that reportedly triggered former US President Donald Trump’s anger.
A western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter told on Tuesday that France did not permit Israel to use its airspace to transport American weapons intended for the war against Iran. This refusal, which occurred over the weekend, was the first instance of France denying such access since the conflict began.
Neither the French presidency nor the foreign ministry was immediately available for comment.
also reported that the prospect of the US using its military installations in Italy for the Iran war has sparked outrage, with centre-left opposition parties urging the Italian government to block any such requests.
“Minister Crosetto’s decision to deny landing permission is a significant and appropriate step that confirms the validity of the concerns we raised,” said Anthony Barbagallo, the Sicilian head of the centre-left Democratic party (PD).
Poland says will not relocate Patriot batteries to Middle East after media claims of US pressure
Poland’s Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the country’s Patriot air defence batteries will not be relocated following media reports suggesting US officials had informally proposed redeploying one of the batteries to the Middle East.
The Rzeczpospolita newspaper reported that the US had been “sounding out” Poland about moving one of its two Patriot batteries to the Middle East.
A spokesperson from the Polish Defence Ministry denied these claims, stating, “The Americans are not putting any pressure on [us] on these matters.”
Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, also denied the report on X, stating, “No one is asking for it.”
The newspaper additionally suggested that future deliveries of contracted US interceptor missiles to Poland could face delays due to the Iran war; this claim was also denied by an army spokesperson.
In a post on X, Kosiniak-Kamysz said:
“Our Patriot batteries and their armament are used to protect Polish skies and NATO’s eastern flank. Nothing is changing in this regard, and we are not planning to relocate them anywhere! Our allies know full well and understand how important the tasks we have here are. Poland’s security is an absolute priority.”
France 'very unhelpful' with Iran and US 'will remember' that, Trump says in latest outburst
US President Donald Trump criticized France over its refusal to allow planes headed to Israel, loaded with military supplies, to fly over French territory.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated:
“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! President DJT”
EU 'reaffirm commitment' to making Russia accountable for war crimes in Ukraine
The EU and 26 of its member states, excluding Hungary, issued a statement on Ukraine following their informal meeting in Bucha.
They declared their intent to “reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring full accountability of the Russian Federation, for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine, including aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations.”
They honoured the memory of all victims of the massacre in Bucha and other locations across Ukraine, where civilians suffered mass killings, torture, sexual violence, forced deportations, and other grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The evidence collected after the withdrawal of Russian forces underscores the imperative to ensure full and comprehensive accountability.
The statement welcomed efforts on the “operationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine.”
They also expressed support for investigations by the International Criminal Court into the situation in Ukraine and called for full cooperation by all State Parties.
Finally, they reiterated their “firm and unwavering” support for Ukraine more broadly.
The absence of Hungary’s signature is unsurprising given the ongoing and escalating standoff between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Kyiv, as Orbán continues to employ anti-Ukrainian rhetoric during his electoral campaign.
EU's top diplomat spoke to Hungarian foreign minister to remind him of confidentiality rules after reports on contacts with Russia, commission says
In response to recent revelations about close contacts between Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian officials, the EU issued a technical statement.
Anitta Hipper, the EU Commission’s foreign spokesperson, said that EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, spoke with Szijjártó earlier in the week to reiterate the importance of confidentiality in closed-door discussions.
Kallas emphasized that the council’s internal deliberations must not be disclosed to third parties.
When pressed further, the Commission’s deputy spokesperson Olof Gill declined to provide additional comments, stating:
“We have nothing more to say on that topic for the moment.”
'What is in it for the US?,' Rubio asks about NATO amid standoff over using NATO bases for Iran operations
The escalating standoff between the US administration and European NATO countries over their reluctance or refusal to support US offensive operations in Iran has attracted significant attention.
Over recent weeks, former President Trump repeatedly criticized NATO countries, accusing them of doing “absolutely nothing,” labeling them as “cowards,” and stating the US would “never forget” their refusal to assist.
In a recent development, US Senator Marco Rubio criticized Spain and other NATO allies for denying requests to use their airspace.
On Monday, Spain announced it had closed its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran war, reinforcing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s opposition to the conflict.
Rubio responded:
“I think it was very disappointing … and … look, the president and our country will have to re-examine all of this after this operation is over, but one of the reasons why NATO is beneficial to the United States is it gives us basing rights for contingencies.
It allows us to station troops and aircraft and weapons in parts of the world that we wouldn’t normally have bases, and that includes much of Europe.
And to see that in a time of need, [when] the United States has identified a grave risk to our national security and our national interests, and we needed to conduct this operation, we have countries like Spain, a NATO member that we are pledged to defend, denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it, denying us the use of our of their bases – and there are other countries that have done that as well – and so you ask yourself, well, what is in it for the United States?”
Similar incidents were recently reported in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as Russia continues targeting Russia’s Baltic Sea coastal areas, including the port of Ust-Luga.
Estonia reported several suspected drones even last night, with a senior defence official telling media that “for the ninth consecutive day, military activity has been ongoing in Estonia’s neighboring Leningrad oblast at a level of intensity not seen since 1944,” according to Estonian broadcaster ERR.
'The war has come close,' Finnish PM says after drones fell in Finland
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that the war in Ukraine has “come close” after two drones fell on Finnish territory, though he emphasized that this does not constitute a military threat.
Two drones crashed in south-eastern Finland on Sunday – one north of Kouvola and one in Luumäki – incidents treated as suspected territorial violations. One of the drones has been identified as Ukrainian.
Finnish Defence Forces report conducting nearly daily surveillance and reconnaissance flights in response to the situation and Ukrainian drone operations near Russian oil facilities.
Orpo said during a press conference:
“The war has come close, and the effects have extended beyond our country’s borders.”
He added that Ukraine has the right to defend itself and there is no indication the drones were deliberately directed at Finland, thus not constituting a military threat.
“On Sunday morning, two drones fell in Finnish territory,” Orpo said.
“Let’s remember what this is about: Russia is continuing its large-scale war of aggression for the fifth year, and Ukraine has the right to defend itself.”
He further noted:
“Last night, there were observations in the Baltic countries that drones had been seen nearby, meaning they were heading towards the Gulf of Finland.”
Major General Timo Herranen of the Finnish Defence Forces stated that Finnish fighter jets were “in the air almost the entire time” last night.
On Sunday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said “there is no military threat to Finland,” adding that authorities responded immediately.
Monitoring and investigations are ongoing. “Finland is prepared to monitor and secure our territory,” he said.
More details emerge on Hungarian foreign minister's alleged links with Russia
Regarding the €90 billion loan and EU sanctions against Russia, and Hungary’s role, new details have emerged alleging close contact between Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and senior Russian officials.
A joint investigation by The Insider and four regional media outlets – VSquare, DelfiEE, FrontStory, and the Investigative Center of Ján Kuciak – alleged that Szijjártó regularly discussed the EU’s confidential plans on sanctions with Russian officials, actively seeking ways to block or delay their adoption.
In a series of conversations reported by the outlets, the Hungarian foreign minister reportedly told Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that he is “always at your disposal” and offered assistance in removing certain individuals from EU sanctions.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis confirmed the authenticity of one of the exchanges that Szijjártó reportedly relayed to the Russians.
One of the article’s authors, Szabolcs Panyi, a prominent investigative journalist in Hungary, was recently accused by the Hungarian government of spying for Ukraine, a move widely condemned.
The five media outlets said Szijjártó did not respond to their request for comment.
He responded on X this morning, ridiculing the report by stating:
“They proved that I say the same publicly as I do on the phone. Nice work!”
“For four years we have been saying that sanctions are a failure, causing more harm to the EU than to Russia. Hungary will never agree to sanction individuals or companies essential for our energy security, for achieving peace, or those with no reason to be on a sanctions list,” he added.
Szijjártó had previously dismissed earlier reports as fake news but acknowledged holding some calls with third-country partners as part of routine diplomacy.
The report is likely to exacerbate frustrations in Brussels and other EU capitals amid growing anger over Hungary’s close ties to Russia, with both Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Szijjártó frequently visiting Moscow.
The revelations come less than two weeks before Hungary’s critical parliamentary election, which could potentially end Orbán’s 16-year tenure.
It is expected that the European Commission will be asked to respond to these developments at their midday briefing.
Bucha 'symbolises cruelty of Russia's war' against Ukraine, EU's Kallas says
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated that the Bucha massacre “has come to symbolise the cruelty of Russia’s war” against Ukraine and pledged to hold Russia accountable for its actions during the conflict.
“Four years after these mass killings, we remember the victims. What happened here cannot be denied,” she emphasized.
Kallas added that the EU is “committed to ensuring that these crimes do not go unpunished, including by supporting the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, alongside the Claims Commission.”
“Russia must be held accountable for what it has done to Ukraine,” she said.
Earlier, she stated that the bloc “will keep providing military, financial, energy, and humanitarian support” to Ukraine.
Morning opening: Focus on Ukraine
Several EU ministers are expected in Bucha, Ukraine, today to mark the fourth anniversary of the town’s liberation and the massacre that became one of the early symbols of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The anniversary represents a rare moment in recent weeks when the EU’s attention refocuses on Ukraine amid growing concerns about the fallout from the Iran war. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas leads the delegation.
The ministers will discuss measures to ensure accountability for war crimes committed during the conflict through a special tribunal, which still requires additional political backing and funding to be established.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on social media:
“The scale of Russian atrocities in the course of its aggression is unseen on European soil since WWII. The crime of aggression is the root cause of them all. There must be accountability and there will be no amnesty for Russian criminals, including the highest political and military leadership of the Russian Federation.”
He compared the proposed tribunal to the Nuremberg trials against Nazi Germany leaders, emphasizing the need to “prevent such horrible crimes from repeating again in the future.”
No progress is expected on contentious issues such as the EU’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, both of which continue to be blocked by Hungary.
Separately, EU energy ministers will hold a call later today to discuss the impact of the Middle East crisis on energy prices, as some countries push unilateral measures to mitigate economic effects.
Additionally, coalition talks continue in Denmark following last week’s parliamentary election, which resulted in a political deadlock.
It is Tuesday, 31 March 2026, and this is Europe Live with Jakub Krupa.
This article was sourced from theguardian
