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Italy Delays 13th Military Aid Package for Ukraine as Meloni Waits for US Midterms
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Italy’s 13th military aid package for Ukraine is ready but remains frozen as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government waits for the outcome of the US midterm elections, La Repubblica reported on October 27.
The package has already been delayed several times, first from July to September, then until after the League party congress, and now potentially until after the November 3 US vote.
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According to La Repubblica, the government had previously assured French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the package would be approved by the end of October. With four days remaining in the month, however, Italy’s parliamentary intelligence committee, Copasir, had still not been called to review the decree.
Italy has not sent a new military aid package to Ukraine since December 2025.
The new package is expected to include Aster 30 missiles, which Ukraine needs to strengthen air defenses protecting Kyiv and other cities from Russian attacks. Italy and France are the only countries able to supply the missiles, according to the report.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has continued to publicly support military assistance to Ukraine and is pressing for approval of the package.
The interministerial decree requires signatures from Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti. La Repubblica reported that Giorgetti has been hesitant amid concern over opposition from Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, though the final political decision rests with Meloni.
Crosetto has privately told colleagues that a political obstacle still needs to be resolved, according to the newspaper. Government officials interpreted this as a lack of final approval from Meloni’s office.
La Repubblica reported that some government sources now favor waiting for the US midterms to assess the direction of President Donald Trump’s next two years and calibrate Italy’s policy accordingly.
Domestic politics are also weighing on the decision. Salvini’s League has opposed further military support for Ukraine, while former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has continued campaigning against weapons deliveries.
Italian officials have informally urged Ukrainian counterparts to remain patient, according to La Repubblica, arguing that an immediate confrontation over the package could create additional political difficulties for Meloni.
Italy and France had committed to supplying the missiles by the end of October. With Copasir still not convened to examine the decree, another postponement remains possible.
Earlier, UNITED24 Media reported that Italy’s 13th military aid package was expected to include four SAMP/T NG air defense batteries, Aster 30 interceptor missiles, and seven long-range radars, with part of the Aster 30 stockpile planned for transfer by October.
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