Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday, 26 October, that a new military aid package for Ukraine is already ready.
“My position is well known: we support Ukraine and will support it for as long as necessary. The next military aid package is already ready; we will send it to Kyiv as quickly as possible,” Tajani told journalists in Milan.
The Italian foreign minister’s remarks came in response to comments by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. He said he would push for Italy to end its economic and military support for Ukraine.
This came after Salvini was re-elected leader of the right-wing League party on Sunday. At an extraordinary congress in Milan, he retained the leadership, defeating senator and former tourism minister Massimo Garavaglia by 465 votes to 146.
Salvini has faced criticism from moderate party members who are unhappy with its continued shift further to the right. Some party colleagues also believe the League should return to its traditional focus on Northern Italy.
The 53-year-old Salvini took over the former Northern League in 2013. He later dropped the word “Northern” from the party’s name to broaden its appeal nationwide.
- Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised an agreement between the United States and Russia on diesel fuel supplies, saying it could weaken Western sanctions and complicate efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin into negotiations with Ukraine.