Italy delays decision on extending military aid to Ukraine for next year - Reuters
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Getty Images)
The Italian government is planning to postpone consideration of a decree that would allow the continuation of military aid to Ukraine in 2026, Reuters reports.
According to the outlet, the situation has arisen amid tensions within Italy’s ruling coalition over the issue of aid to Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to support Ukraine in resisting the Russian invasion until the end of the war, but her deputy, Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, questions the need for further support for Ukrainian forces.
Reuters sources said that the decree extending aid to Ukraine had been included on the agenda for a meeting on Wednesday, December 3, where preparations for the next day’s Cabinet meeting were expected. However, it was removed because "the agenda was too full."
The Italian government has approved decrees extending military aid to Ukraine each year. These decrees allowed the government to provide Ukraine with weapons packages without parliamentary approval. The current decree expires at the end of the year.
After government approval, the new decree will take effect immediately, but then it must be ratified by parliament within 60 days.
New aid package from Italy
Earlier, it was reported that the Italian government had approved its 12th package of military assistance for Ukraine.
The corresponding decree was signed by Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
As usual, the Italian government did not disclose the contents of the new military aid package or the cost of the weapons included.
Italy has been assisting Ukraine since 2022. In particular, it has provided SAMP/T air-defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
