France’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Italy’s ambassador to Paris, Emanuela D’Alessandro, to protest what it described as “unacceptable” comments by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini targeting President Emmanuel Macron for his support of sending troops to Ukraine.

Diplomatic sources in Paris said the ambassador, who was called in on Thursday, was reminded that Salvini’s statements run counter to the climate of trust and the longstanding ties between the two countries. The sources also noted that recent developments have underscored closer cooperation between France and Italy, particularly in their united backing of Ukraine.