Italy will keep sending military aid to Ukraine in 2026, official says

ROME, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Italy ‌will send ​more ​military aid to Ukraine this year, a senior government official said on Tuesday, adding that continued ‌support for Kyiv could help bring Russia to ⁠the negotiating table.

"We have already agreed that aid of all kinds, ‌including military aid, will continue ‌to be provided to Ukraine throughout the year, so there will obviously be further aid packages in 2026," ​said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and a close aide to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Speaking at a conference ⁠marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he added that ​continuing backing for Kyiv "could lead Russia to genuine peace negotiations within a reasonable time frame".

Rome has ​so far supported Ukraine's military effort ‌with 12 aid packages, including air defence systems.

The issue has sparked divisions within the ruling ⁠coalition, with the far-right League party arguing that further assistance could fuel corruption in Kyiv and not help end the war.

Fazzolari ⁠said support for Ukraine was part of coalition policy and that ​all allies were expected to support it.

While Italy has been a consistent contributor, it has lagged behind other major European economies, notably ‌Germany, which has sent more than 15 billion euros ($17.66 billion) in military supplies to Ukraine, ‌with billions more promised.

Italy's defence chief of staff said last ⁠year the country had ‌so far sent more ​than 3 billion euros worth of supplies.

($1 = 0.8495 euros)

(Reporting by Angelo Amante in RomeEditing by Gareth ‌Jones)

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