The key facts

  • Italy is completing preparations for the 13th military aid package for Ukraine, with the presentation scheduled for November 10
  • The package may include Aster interceptor missiles for the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system
  • It is unclear whether the Meloni government will seek to extend aid until 2027 amid the approaching parliamentary elections

New aid package and its presentation

Italy is completing preparations for a new military aid package for Ukraine. The country's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto is due to present it on November 10, Reuters reports , citing sources. The 13th tranche of military aid is expected to be approved after Crosetto presents a report to the parliamentary committee on intelligence and security.

Package contents and political context

According to the agency's sources, the aid package may include Aster interceptor missiles for the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system. Reuters notes that this step comes almost a year after Italy approved the previous package, which, according to the agency, highlights the difficulties Rome faced in preparing it amid growing internal disagreements over support for Kyiv. At the same time, it remains unclear whether Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will seek parliamentary approval to extend military aid to Ukraine until 2027: the agency points out that the issue may become more contentious as Italy's parliamentary elections approach.

Context of other deliveries

The preparation of the Italian package comes against the backdrop of other statements about support for Kyiv. On November 5, it became known that the European Union will allocate another €4.36 billion to Ukraine as part of a €90 billion loan. On November 3, the DPA agency reported that Germany's additional 'winter' aid package for Ukraine would amount to €200 million. At the end of October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the United Kingdom would provide Kyiv with an additional £10 billion. Earlier, Germany pointed to the futility of Kyiv's attempts to cling to Western military aid.