Italy is considering increasing the amount of assistance to Ukraine, including military assistance, to 2% of GDP. This was discussed during the meetings of Vice-Speaker Olena Kondratiuk in Rome with the Chairman of the Italian Senate Commission on Defence and International Relations Stefania Craxi and the Chairman of the Commission for European Policy Giulio Terzi.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed that russia has been and remains the biggest threat to the security of the EU and NATO countries.
"Therefore, it is very important that our partners increase their own defence spending and military support to Ukraine. My colleagues have assured me that Italy will do everything possible to increase the volume of assistance to Ukraine to 2% of GDP," said the Vice Speaker Olena Kondratiuk.
She also expressed her gratitude to Italy for the 8th military assistance package and the transfer of two SAMP/T air defence systems to protect Ukrainian skies, civilians and civilian infrastructure.
"We expect an effective Italian response to the recent russian missile attack on Ukraine and the shelling of the Okhmatdyt children's hospital, and we hope the 9th package will be even more powerful. We hope for Italy's active position during the NATO Washington Summit on the formation of a package of practical solutions that will allow Ukraine to strengthen its air defence and reliably protect its skies," said Olena Kondratiuk.
According to her, the Ukrainian side is seeking to obtain the necessary weapons and permits to conduct long-range strikes against targets in russia that are used for missile and bombing attacks on the territory of Ukraine in self-defence.
The meetings also discussed Ukraine's further European integration.
"Ukraine highly appreciates Italy's firm position on our EU membership. I am grateful for the support in the approval of the negotiation framework by the European Council. It is important for Ukraine not to lose both the awareness of the urgency of military assistance to Ukraine and the common pace of Ukraine's progress on the European integration path during the Hungarian EU presidency and after the European Parliament elections," said Olena Kondratiuk.
She also thanked Italy for its active participation in the Peace Summit in Switzerland.
"My colleagues and I discussed the further implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula. From the common ground of the Summit participants, we should move on to the next effective steps. Ukraine needs a just peace, not appeasement of the aggressor!" said Vice Speaker Olena Kondratiuk.