Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's comments on arms purchases for Ukraine suggest that Giorgio Meloni's government has changed its strategy for Ukraine amid a lack of funds and tensions within the ruling coalition, Bloomberg reports.
According to Tajani, participating in NATO's program to buy U.S. arms for Ukraine in light of ongoing peace talks is “hasty“ for Italy. “If we reach an agreement and the fighting stops, the weapons will no longer be needed“, he stressed.
After “some hesitation“ in October, Rome announced its readiness to join the “Priority List for Ukraine“ program (PURL), through which the US sells NATO weapons to Kiev.
Tajani’s current statements “contradict the statements of the main European defense lobby” as well as the European Association of Aerospace and Defense Industries (EADIA), which has called on the continent to continue increasing its defense production despite the prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Ukraine has also said it will need an additional $1.2 billion for additional supplies to protect itself through the winter. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, approximately two-thirds of NATO countries participate in the program.