Italian Senate supports extension of military assistance to Ukraine for 2023

La Repubblica reported that the resolution, submitted by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, was supported by 143 senators, 29 voted against and one abstained.

Also, the Italian Senate supported 2 resolutions submitted by the opposition Democratic Party and the Action party, which call for the continuation of military assistance to Ukraine, with approximately the same number of votes. The resolution demanding to stop supplying weapons to Kyiv, introduced by the Greens and Left Alliance, was rejected.

The decision means that Italy will provide Ukraine with military equipment throughout 2023 without asking approval from Italian lawmakers. This decision follows a decree supported by the Italian government in early December.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the administration of former Prime Minister Mario Draghi introduced measures that allowed sending weapons to Kyiv without asking parliamentary approval for each delivery. This agreement is set to expire at the end of the year and the coalition, that supports Prime Minister George Meloni, initially sought to extend it until 31 December 2023 by amending a government decree. The decree is currently being considered by the parliament.

However, the main opposition group, the centre-left Democratic Party, complained that the decree in question was not directly related to Ukraine and accused the government of breaking parliamentary rules.

In response, Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Chiriani said that the government would consider holding the extension as a separate decree, ensuring that it is approved as soon as possible.