Italy's foreign minister says new military aid package for Ukraine is ready
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on 26 October that a new military aid package for Ukraine is ready and will be sent as soon as possible. He was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who has pledged to work to end Italy's support for Kyiv.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday, 26 October, that a new military aid package for Ukraine, which is defending itself against Russia's invasion, has already been prepared. Ukrainian outlet European Pravda reported this, citing the Italian news agency ANSA. The statement matters because members of Italy's government hold differing views on continued support for Kyiv.
Tajani, who leads the centre-right party Forza Italia, was replying to his colleague Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister and transport minister. Salvini had earlier said he would work to end Italy's economic and military support for Ukraine's government.
"My position is well known: we are on Ukraine's side and will support it for as long as needed. The next military aid package is already ready, and we will send it to Kyiv as soon as possible," Tajani said.
Tension inside Salvini's party
The source notes that at a party meeting Salvini faced criticism from moderate members unhappy with the party's continuing shift to the right.
Salvini was recently re-elected leader of the far-right party League, which belongs to the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Last autumn, Salvini said that further aid to Ukraine could "fuel corruption".
The source does not specify what the new aid package contains.
