A new interministerial decree is on its way to be dispatched weapons toUkraine. After two months of controversy and “parliamentary scrutiny,” the prime minister said goodbye Mario Draghi Earlier last week, government sources confirmed that the fourth text was being drafted. However, it will still be a few days before you find a full text. In fact, a new extraordinary NATO summit will take place in Madrid on Wednesday and Thursday. Summit where allies will take stock of states’ individual readiness to meet Kiev’s demands. A shopping list that, as Ukrainian parliament vice-president Oleksandr Kornienko clarified, includes “long-range artillery, anti-tank weapons, multiple rocket launchers and anti-aircraft systems.”
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THE TEXT
It will then take a few more days before the measure must finally be given the green light by the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and, as discussed at length in recent days in the Chamber, Copasir. As on previous occasions, the text will remain classified, but among the supplies sent – government sources close to the dossier confirm – will be mainly armored vehicles and heavy artillery. This means that they will most likely head for Kyiv with M130 tracked troop transport vehicles and Lince anti-mine armored vehicles.
Funds already used and appreciated by the Ukrainian troops, which these days (as documented by several videos available on social networks) are receiving those promised last month. The howitzers FH-70 howitzers, which have a range of up to 25-30 km, are also to be replenished. Despite what Germany has just done, it is unlikely that the defense will send the most modern Pzh 2000 howitzers due to limited availability. Also included are generic supplies such as storage tents and medical equipment, as well as various ammunition and machine guns (including the Beretta MG42/59). The possible increase in Italian involvement in training the Ukrainian military to use Western weapons is also discussed. In any case, a conspicuous charge that, apart from NATO counter-orders, should not contain any long-range weapons. In fact, the UK and Germany will look into it, as will of course the White House, which has already announced another $500 million package. These are the M142 medium-range highly mobile multiple artillery systems, or Himars, with a range of almost 80 km, more than 25 of the M777 howitzers already sent.
THE INNER FRONT
The position of Giuseppe Conte’s 5-Star Movement weighs on the election of the government, which will remain perplexed, especially after the break with Luigi Di Maio that prompted the foreign minister to split with the Pentastellati. So much so that he even reiterated yesterday at the young industrialists’ conference that the main path Italy should follow is through diplomacy. “I believe that Italy must be a protagonist in international forums to bring about a diplomatic escalation – said the Cinquestelle leader – Italy has a great capacity for dialogue.” With the great effort of the US and UK, a few more guns from Italy are of little help to the common cause”. Exactly “the other point of view” that Draghi spoke of in his speech in Parliament. “Ukraine must defend itself – he explained before the EU Council in Brussels – sanctions and arms deliveries are intended for this. The other view is different: “Ukraine must not defend itself, we must not implement sanctions and we must not send weapons. Russia is too strong to fight it. Let it come in, let Ukraine submit, after all, what do these people want “».
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