Future of Italy's Ukraine aid uncertain amid rising coalition tensions
Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Getty Images)
Tensions are rising within Giorgia Meloni's coalition government over whether to continue supporting Ukraine in 2026, Bloomberg reports.
On Thursday, the League party publicly declared that billions in frozen Russian assets held in the EU should be returned to Moscow — a position sharply rejected by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
"The line is set by the Prime Minister, and I share her view," he stated.
The debate intensified ahead of a decision on whether Italy will send another aid package to Kyiv in 2026. The government vote, initially scheduled for Thursday, was postponed.
Meloni, who avoids highlighting internal coalition conflicts, attributed the delay to logistical reasons and insisted the decree would still be approved.
Meanwhile, divisions are deepening due to the EU's ongoing struggle to decide how to use frozen Russian assets. A large portion is held in Belgium, which opposes using the funds due to excessive "legal and financial risks."
Despite Rome's official statements that its stance on Ukraine remains unchanged, domestic politics, election cycles, and geopolitical pressure are making Italy's position increasingly ambiguous.
Another sign of this trend came from Tajani this week. He said Italy's participation in NATO's program to supply US weapons to Ukraine is premature due to ongoing peace negotiations, even though in October the government signaled, for the first time, its readiness to join the mechanism.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, a Meloni ally from the Brothers of Italy party, tried to ease tensions, describing the League's position as consistent.
Italy's support
Italy remains one of the key EU states backing Ukraine, but internal political dynamics are increasingly influencing its foreign-policy decisions.
A year ago, Meloni strongly advocated strengthening Kyiv's defense capabilities, signed agreements on delivering air-defense systems, and repeatedly urged partners to increase their support.
However, in 2024–2025, the first signs of division began to emerge within the coalition — particularly between Meloni's party and the more skeptical League and parts of Forza Italia.
Against this backdrop, the decision on whether Italy will continue stable military support for Kyiv is gaining not only foreign-policy relevance but also major domestic political significance.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the formation of the 12th military aid package for Ukraine.
The Italian government approved the extension of its authorization to transfer weapons to Ukraine. This decision required parliamentary approval.
After completing the necessary procedures, Italy delivered its 11th aid package to Ukraine, which included, among other things, VCC-2 Camilino tracked armored personnel carriers — the Italian modification of the M113-type vehicles.
