The security conference "Security Culture: Italy's Contribution" took place in Rome. Ukraine was represented at the event by Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk.
The conference was also attended by the leadership of the Italian Intelligence Service, the Carabinieri Service; the Chairman of the Senate Commission on European Policy; high-ranking military officers, diplomats, and representatives of Italian defence companies.
"The key topic of the event is consolidation of efforts to respond to the russian invasion of Ukraine. The security challenges for Ukraine and Italy, as well as for the EU and NATO countries and the whole of Europe, are being addressed. We are also focusing on countering cyber threats and russian disinformation," said Olena Kondratiuk.
In her speech, the Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada stressed that Ukraine is very interested in cooperation with the Italian military-industrial complex, as one of the most high-tech.
"I am addressing everyone present in this hall. If you are not yet producing and transferring weapons for Ukraine, start! If you are producing and transferring, double this amount!" said the Vice Speaker Olena Kondratiuk.
She noted that 5 Italian defence companies had already joined the Alliance of Defence Industries during a recent visit to Kyiv.
The Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament also called on NATO countries to significantly increase defence spending.
"We need to have an honest conversation with NATO countries and the countries that are guarantors of peace in Europe. russia will remain the biggest security threat to Europe in the near future.
NATO member states need to increase their defence budgets to 2 – 2.5 – 3%. We need real peace, not appeasement of the aggressor!", said Olena Kondratiuk.
In addition, the Vice Speaker invited the conference participants to take part in a fundraising campaign to invest in Ukraine's defence industry. The campaign is called "Gunsmiths".
"The Netherlands, Denmark, and Canada have already joined the initiative. The goal of the project is to raise $10 billion for the production of Ukrainian weapons in 2024," summed up Olena Kondratiuk.