Italy debates 13th Ukraine aid package amid coalition split

Italy's government is weighing its 13th aid package for Ukraine as Defence Minister Guido Crosetto presents the classified measure to Copasir, the parliamentary committee for the security of the republic. The debate has exposed fresh tensions inside the governing coalition, even as officials insist the process is still moving forward. The package is linked to continued support for Kyiv at a time when European leaders are also discussing Ukraine's future in Abu Dhabi.

According to the supplied material, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti had not yet signed the decree after being in Brussels for Ecofin, the meeting of EU finance ministers. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the document must be signed in person because it is classified and cannot be approved electronically. Crosetto said he expects Giorgetti to sign once he returns, and he defended the need for Italy and Europe to keep supporting Ukraine.

The row has been sharpened by repeated reservations from Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini over military aid to Kyiv. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, by contrast, has remained firm in backing continued support for Ukraine for as long as necessary, alongside Forza Italia. League senator Claudio Borghi has also added pressure by questioning whether the package can be considered valid before all required signatures are in place.

The dispute matters because the decree cannot be published, and the aid cannot be sent, until the League minister signs it. The package is described as covering not only military assistance but also civilian support, making the delay politically and practically significant. It also comes as European governments continue to debate how to present a united position on Ukraine, with Palazzo Chigi stressing that Europe must speak with one voice and work from a clear, shared mandate.

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Crosetto has also used the discussion to restate Italy's broader line on Ukraine strategy. He said Europe should maintain a common position, reflecting a request from Meloni, and reiterated that excluding a physical European troop presence in Ukraine has always been Italy's caveat. That position places the current debate within a wider European conversation about the limits of support, the shape of any future security arrangement, and the degree of unity among allies.

What remains unclear is how quickly Giorgetti will sign and whether the coalition disagreement will deepen into a more open confrontation. The supplied material does not indicate any final decision on the package or any change to Italy's overall policy. The next development to watch is whether the decree is formally signed and published, allowing the aid to proceed.

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