Italy to approve more military aid for Ukraine this month, sources say

By Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine, two sources close to the matter said on Tuesday, in a renewed show of support for Kyiv from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's rightist government.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Italy has approved nine packages of aid for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration, including two Franco-Italian air defence systems known as SAMP/T.

The sources, who asked not to be named, said the government was likely to approve a 10th package by the end of this month, but declined to provide details. All shipments have so far been covered by state secrecy.

Meloni has been a supporter of Kyiv since taking office in late 2022 and has vowed to back Ukraine until the war ends, amid uncertainty over the future attitude of the U.S. once president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

On Tuesday, NATO chief Mark Rutte urged members of the military alliance to step up military aid for Ukraine to strengthen its position should it enter into peace negotiations with Russia.

Under Italy's presidency this year, the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies have repeatedly pledged support for Ukraine, condemned Russia's war of aggression and pledged a $50 billion loan for Kyiv backed by frozen Russian assets.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Alvise Armellini and Kevin Liffey)