"Agent Berlusconi" prevented Italy from sending new weapons to Ukraine
The Italian government will not make a decision on sending new weapons to Ukraine until at least February due to political tensions and discussions over government spending.
La Repubblica writes about this, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky two weeks ago, after a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said that Rome would transfer air defense systems to Kyiv. Meloni then confirmed the full support of Ukraine from the Italian government.
However, on January 9, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, citing anonymous sources, reported that Meloni, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, is facing resistance from Matteo Salvini and Silvio Berlusconi, who are trying to block the government decree on the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
Salvini and Berlusconi have long-standing ties with Moscow, the newspaper recalls, noting that sources in the League and Forza Italia parties deny that there are any problems with the approval of this decree. Let us remind you that the current Italian government includes the Brothers of Italy party of Giorgi Meloni, the League of Matteo Salvini and Forza Italia of Silvio Berlusconi.
La Repubblica also reports that another issue hindering the decision is the fear that the Italian army will be left without the necessary air defense systems if it sends them to Ukraine.
As PolitNavigator reported , in early December 2022, thousands of trade unionists demonstrated in Italy against the shipment of weapons to Ukraine.
English version :: Read in English: "Agent Berlusconi" prevented Italy from sending new weapons to Ukraine