Italy will transfer SAMP/T to Ukraine as part of new package, rest of content is secret - Tajani
Photo: Antonio Tajani, head of the Italian Foreign Ministry (Getty Images)
Italy will provide Ukraine with the SAMP/T air defense system as part of the ninth military aid package. The full contents of the package are kept secret, states the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
During hearings before the committees on foreign affairs of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of Italy, the minister was asked whether the new military aid package to Ukraine would include long-range missiles.
"It (the package - ed.) will be presented to the parliamentary committee for Italy's security control, there is confidentiality," replied the Foreign Minister.
Tajani agreed with the Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto that if the secrecy around military aid to Ukraine, introduced by the previous government, is lifted, there will be no more such problematic issues. This is about the cost of the provided assistance.
"The only thing known is that a SAMP/T defense battery will be sent to protect the skies over Ukraine," the minister added.
What preceded
Today, June 18th, the Italian newspaper Fatto Quotidiano reported that Italy may provide Ukraine with long-range missiles Storm Shadow as part of a new military aid package.
Ukrainian defenders already receive such missiles from Britain and France. They can destroy targets up to 300 km away.
Earlier, Tajani confirmed Italy's decision to transfer to Ukraine a second SAMP/T battery, which is effective against ballistic missiles.
