Italy decides to extend arms supplies to Ukraine

The Council of Ministers met in the evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and discussed the decree that currently provides arms aid to Ukraine and will expire at the beginning of the year.

In a written statement made by the Prime Minister after the cabinet meeting, on the proposal of Prime Minister Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, the Council of Ministers approved a law containing urgent provisions for expand the supply of weapons. to Ukraine until December 31, 2023. which approved the decree.

With the sixth decree, which must pass parliamentary approval, the Italian government will be able to supply arms to kyiv for the next year without needing to seek parliamentary approval for each new shipment.

According to Italian media reports, the latest decree provides for providing a short-range surface-to-air missile system to kyiv.

In the news, it was recalled that the Kyiv administration requested air defense systems to protect the country’s infrastructure from Russian air strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also told Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper on October 25 that he requested an air defense system from Italy against Russian air strikes.

Italy had previously provided Ukraine with ammunition and military support materials in different sizes, such as howitzers and multi-barreled rocket launcher systems, with 5 separate decrees issued during the Mario Draghi government. (AA)