Italy’s ninth military aid package to Ukraine includes long-range missiles
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Italy is poised to send its ninth military aid package to Ukraine, featuring the advanced Samp-T air defense system and a batch of Storm Shadow missiles, capable of reaching Russian territory, Italian news outlet Il Fatto reported on June 18.
This information marks a significant policy shift for Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloni post-European elections.
Defense Minister Guido Crozetto is expected to announce the details of the aid package by the end of June. The inclusion of Storm Shadow missiles, previously downplayed by Maloni during the elections, signals a return to her pro-Atlantic stance after the defeat of pro-peace parties.
The exact deployment location of these missiles remains undisclosed; however, they are likely to be mounted on Ukrainian Su-24 fighter jets. The Ukrainian government had been pressing for these long-range missiles, deemed crucial for a possible counteroffensive.
This announcement comes amid controversial proposals by the pro-Russian League party in Italy, which has urged measures to avoid military escalation and potential global conflict, and criticized NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's stance on lifting restrictions against targeting Russian positions.
Italy, which initially acquired the Storm Shadow missiles in 1999, plans to join a Franco-British initiative to modernize its missile capabilities in 2023. British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps highlighted in an April interview with The Times that these missiles had been deployed by Italy, France, and the UK, describing them as "extraordinary weapons" that have significantly impacted the conflict dynamics, particularly in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The Italian government has neither confirmed nor denied these reports.
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