Italy is apparently preparing a new aid package for Ukraine. There could be important air defense systems in it, which will give Kyiv an advantage.
Rome/Kyiv - Italy will send another aid package to Ukraine in the fight against Russia. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto presented a new decision on arms supplies to Kiev on May 30 during a hearing in the parliamentary committee for the control of special services.
It is not yet known exactly what weapons the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will send. The contents of Crosetto's speech on Friday (2 June) would also be kept secret. The planned deliveries are the seventh Italian military aid package since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. Under Meloni's government, it is the second. She has been Italy's Prime Minister since 22 October 2022 and has a strong position on supporting Ukraine. Most recently, Meloni even became loud when MPs from a populist party called on Italy's government to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Giorgia Meloni (right), Prime Minister of Italy, and Volodymyr Zelensky. (Archive photo) © Alessandra Tarantino/AP/dpa
Italy adopts new aid package for Ukraine - air defense system to protect Kyiv
According to speculation in the Italian daily Il Messaggero, the military package could include a ground-based SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system as well as other air defense systems, as the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system was already part of the previous aid package in February. Later, the newspaper added that the package also included equipment against biological, chemical and radiological (NBCR) attacks. The newspaper refers to the speech of the Minister of Defense, but the information has not been officially confirmed.
It was only in mid-May that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Italy for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war during his trip to Europe. Even though the country cannot offer billions of dollars in arms deliveries like the US or Germany, the Prime Minister reaffirmed her full support for Ukraine during her visit. Among other things, Meloni campaigned for Kiev to be admitted to the EU, because the country is also fighting for the future of Europe. (nz/dpa)
