Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking at a hearing before the joint committees on Foreign Affairs of the House and Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Senate, commented on the future security cooperation agreement between Italy and Ukraine.
The minister emphasised that the Italian government is moving in the same direction as France and Germany and “the agreement we are discussing reaffirms support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” as well as its path towards European integration.
Recalling that Italy had already approved eight military aid packages, Tajani stressed that “as in the agreements signed by Ukraine with other partners, economic assistance, commitments to rebuild Odessa, humanitarian support and protection of critical infrastructures are also provided”, however, nothing was said about military support and security guarantees. Tajani explained:
“The text does not provide for any commitments in terms of international law and financial obligations. There are no automatic guarantees of political and military support. Like our partners, this agreement does not require ratification in parliament.”
Tajani also said that the significance of the agreement to be signed between Italy and Ukraine is “political and symbolic”. The Minister stated:
“We are supporting a country of which some parts, I am thinking of the electricity grid, are being destroyed. The civilian population, without energy, risks experiencing dramatic moments in the winter season. Reconstruction is divided into two phases: during the war and post-war. If the war lasts for years, parts must be reconstructed, such as the electricity grid, to allow the civilian population to live and not be crushed by the general winter. Then there are also a series of initiatives for the future.”
Finally, Tajani announced that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “will chair the virtual meeting of G7 leaders on 24 February, which will also be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.”
