Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani said that the total amount of Italian military assistance to Ukraine amounted to about a billion euros.
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“Italy has already provided Ukraine with five defense assistance packages worth about one billion euros. A sixth package is being prepared, which includes air defense systems. Minister Kuleba thanked for the support, and I repeated that it will be continued,” he said.
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Tajani also confirmed that Italy is “finishing work with France” on sending the Samp/T air defense system. In addition, he said, “there are other activities that we are working on confidentially.”
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Earlier, the Italian media wrote that the decision on the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine was postponed until February. The reason for the delay was said to be friction in the ruling coalition, the high price of Samp / T air defense systems and their small number in the Italian armed forces – in total, Italy has five complexes. The total cost of one battery is allegedly 750 million euros, but the option that Italy can allegedly provide to Ukraine would cost 250 million, since the other part of the complex can be supplied by France.
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On December 1, the Meloni government adopted a special decree that provides for the continuation of various assistance to Ukraine in 2023, including the supply of weapons. The list of military equipment and equipment sent by Rome to Ukraine is classified.
