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(Bloomberg) — Italy has expressed readiness to pay for US weapons purchases for Ukraine as part of a special procurement program that’s essential to Kyiv’s efforts to fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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Defense Minister Guido Crosetto made the overture in a meeting of defense ministers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization last week, according to people familiar with the matter. They declined to be named because the talks are private.
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The Italian ministry of defense didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said last week that more than half the alliance’s 32 members had agreed to pledge money to help Ukraine buy US weapons. He didn’t provide any details, but Baltic and Nordic nations said earlier they were among those working on a new package.
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Kyiv has managed to secure around $2 billion in funding from six countries through September, but that is well short of its goal as Moscow steps up attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure. The program, known as PURL, allows Kyiv to purchase arms, including much needed Patriot anti-missile systems, with mostly European partners paying for them.
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Italy initially opposed participating in the program, saying other avenues were available for Ukraine to source weapons. The change in position was partly motivated by the concern that Italy could be sidelined if the program becomes dominated by some allies, the people said.
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Finding new funding for Ukraine — currently well into the fourth year of Russia’s invasion — has become increasingly urgent. Military aid to Kyiv slowed significantly over the summer after the US said it would no longer pay for the weapons, forcing European allies to search for alternatives.
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Italy has worked on at least 10 military aid packages for Ukraine. Rome’s contributions included donating air defense equipment such as SAMP/T batteries, the people said. The content of the packages is classified.
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has continued to back Ukraine despite her country’s limited fiscal headroom.
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