Italy's Salvini urges halt to Ukraine aid after reelection as Meloni rejects demand
Italian Vice-Premier Matteo Salvini was reelected leader of the far-right League and called for the government to stop supporting Ukraine. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected the demand, saying the government's pro-Ukraine policy would remain unchanged and that the next military-aid package was ready to go to Kyiv.
Key points
- Matteo Salvini was reelected leader of the far-right League on Sunday.
- Salvini vowed to press the Italian government to end assistance to Ukraine.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected his demand and reaffirmed the government's support for Ukraine.
- Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy will support Ukraine for as long as needed.
- Italy's next military-aid package for Ukraine is ready and will be sent as soon as possible.
- Meloni called Salvini after his statements and warned against publicly exposing divisions within the coalition.
- The dispute comes ahead of next year's general election amid competition among Italy's right-wing parties.
Why it matters
The confrontation reveals a significant division within Italy's governing coalition over military and financial assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, the government has confirmed that its support will continue and that another military-aid package is ready, while the political dispute breaks out ahead of Italy's next general election.
What happened
Matteo Salvini, Italy's vice-premier and leader of the far-right League, was reelected party leader on Sunday. After his victory, he promised to seek an end to Italian assistance to Ukraine and questioned whether part of the funds sent to Kyiv had reached corrupt officials close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Meloni rejected his demand and called him afterward to express dissatisfaction and warn against publicly demonstrating disagreements within the coalition. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also confirmed that the government's policy toward Ukraine remains unchanged. The next Italian military-aid package is reportedly ready and will be sent to Kyiv as soon as possible.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian outlets emphasized both sides of the conflict: Salvini's demand to end aid, his allegations concerning the use of Ukrainian funds and the political rupture within Italy's government. At the same time, they stressed the continuity of Italy's political and military support for Ukraine and the readiness of the next assistance package.
Where reporting differs
Salvini called for Italy to end assistance to Ukraine, while Meloni and Tajani said the government's support policy would remain unchanged. Meloni's decision to retain support therefore directly contradicted her coalition partner's demand.
Background
The Italian government has supported Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Salvini's League belongs to the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament alongside Marine Le Pen's National Rally. Salvini has repeatedly opposed military assistance to Kyiv. The latest dispute is also unfolding ahead of Italy's next general election, as right-wing parties compete for voters; recent surveys indicate that Salvini's National Future is gaining support at the expense of his League.