Italy, as part of the sixth military assistance package, will not provide Kyiv with ground assets and artillery systems, said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
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“I can’t talk about the content of the decrees adopted by the previous government. The (decree) that will be adopted by this government does not provide for artillery weapons,” he said.
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According to the minister, Kyiv continues to ask for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense equipment. Speaking about the specific content of the future package, the minister stressed that the parliament would be informed about it in a timely manner.
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When asked if the sixth package included ground systems and artillery, Crosetto said: “I read about this in the newspapers, but there is no sign of them in the decree that we are drawing up.”
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The defense minister also assured that military assistance to Kyiv “will never exceed” the volumes that would affect Italy’s defense capabilities.
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Earlier, 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. On Tuesday, the Italian parliament approved a government decree that provides for the continuation of a variety of assistance to Ukraine in 2023, including arms supplies.
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Now the Italian government is preparing the sixth package of military assistance to Kyiv. It is expected to include the modern Samp/T medium-range air defense system requested by the Ukrainian authorities.
