Italy has confirmed its stance, announcing it will not help finance the purchase of US-made weapons for Ukraine under NATO’S Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the decision in a speech to the Italian Parliament in Rome on Thursday, underlining Rome’s efforts to contain defense spending even as ally states step up funding for Kyiv’s air defense.
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“We have said no from the beginning, and it is still a no,” Crosetto said, despite last year’s announcement that Rome was warming up to the idea of taking part in PURL.
However, he maintained the same stance throughout the course of the Russian war against Ukraine – that there were other avenues which could supply Ukraine with much needed military aid.
Italy shifting defense spending plans
Italy’s refusal to join PURL reflects a broader reluctance to rely on new European and transatlantic tools designed to boost defense spending.
According to DefenseNews, Rome has signaled it is unlikely to make use of the EU’s NEC framework, which allows certain defense investments to be excluded from deficit calculations.
“The decision to adhere or not adhere to SAFE cannot be taken by the Ministry of Defense,” said Crosetto, who is known to be in favor of taking out the loans.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy may not enter the EU’s SAFE loans program as well, which would have ensured €14.9 billion (about $17.1 billion) in loans for defense spending. She has argued that the government must prioritize easing the cost of living, particularly energy and fuel bills, ahead of upcoming elections next year – at times when higher military spending is unpopular with voters.
Kremlin Signals Readiness for Talks on Ukraine
However, Italy has reportedly told NATO it will join alliance members in pushing defense spending to 5% of GDP – a total made up of 3.5% in weaponry and 1.5% in spending on domestic security.
Meloni said she plans to announce Italy’s spending would rise up to 2.8% GDP this year at the NATO Ankara summit in July.
According to DefenseNews’ Italian government sources, the new spending will cover border security, cyber, space and dual-use technology, forming a part of the 1.5% extra envisioned by NATO.
Allies step up new military aid for Ukraine
The Dutch government pledged €500 million (about $580 million) in new military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, covering drones and air defense equipment in one of the largest single Dutch contributions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Germany will contribute $400 million to purchase air defense ammunition for Ukraine, along with another $200 million for PAC-3 interceptor missiles under NATO-backed procurement initiatives.
The United Kingdom has also announced a £752 million (about $996 million) military aid package for Ukraine, which includes 150,000 drones, more than 350 air-defense missiles, and radar systems, further expanding Kyiv’s air defense and drone capabilities.
Support for Ukraine a ‘priority’ ahead of NATO summit
The leaders of NATO member countries are set to meet in the Turkish capital Ankara from July 7-8 amid ongoing global crises.
Speaking to TVP World on Wednesday, Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Benedetta Berti said that discussions within the Western alliance are focused on how to continue supplying Kyiv with the military equipment it needs to defend itself against Russia, while negotiating from a “position of strength.”
“As you know, 99% of the military assistance to Ukraine comes from NATO allies. So I would say the discussions are really focused towards the [upcoming NATO summit in] Ankara,” Berti explained.
He added that there is room for more cooperation between Ukraine and the West, as Kyiv has rapidly developed domestic weapons platforms, showing the significance of Ukrainian defense industry to the European security.
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