The Italian Parliament approved a decree, on Thursday, extending for one year the provision of weapons, vehicles, and equipment to Ukraine to support its war against Russia.
The Italian news agency ANSA reported that the Parliament approved the measure with a majority of 218 votes after it was already approved by the Senate.
Following the approval of the Parliament, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said, “Once again, Italy has chosen to stand by the freedom of nations and respect for international law, aiming, in line with the position taken by NATO and EU allies, for a just and lasting peace.”
Crosetto added that “prolonging the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, in a scenario exacerbated by the Middle East crisis and the war between Israel and Gaza, requires the government of Georgina Meloni to choose cohesion and support, and thus, extend aid to Ukraine, in line with the international commitments that Italy has pledged in the European Union and the NATO alliance.”
The decree extends military aid to Kyiv until the end of this year.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed that the European Union (EU) has provided approximately €85 billion in financial, humanitarian, and military aid to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict.
The statement was made alongside Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Shmyhal expressed Ukraine’s gratitude for the substantial support from the EU, stating, “We are grateful for the financial, humanitarian, and military assistance provided by the European Union to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war, amounting to nearly €85 billion.”
