Italy has once again postponed the dispatch of the 13th military aid package to Ukraine. According to Il Giornale d'Italia, cited by RBC-Ukraine, the already assembled batch of weapons and military equipment has been "frozen" until November 3—the date of the US midterm elections. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as reported by the outlet, intends to wait for the results of the American vote before making a final decision on unblocking the supplies. Thus, Washington's political calendar is effectively becoming a new benchmark for Rome's policy toward Kyiv.
Ten Months Without Supplies: A Chronology of Delays
The situation regarding Italian military aid to Ukraine unfolds against the backdrop of a months-long pause in deliveries. According to Il Giornale d'Italia, ten months have already passed since the last batch of aid was sent to Ukraine. The publication emphasizes that no final decision on completely halting supplies has been made in Rome, but the management of the package is accompanied by systematic delays. The 13th package, previously described as fully formed and ready for transfer, remains in a state of uncertainty following repeated postponements.
US Elections as a Political Benchmark
A key factor determining the current pause is the date of the US midterm congressional elections, set for November 3. According to Il Giornale d'Italia, Meloni is awaiting the outcome of the vote to gain a new political foundation for making decisions on the Ukrainian issue. The passage of the US elections could offer Rome an updated context for positioning itself within transatlantic relations. At the same time, the publication notes that November 3 is not yet an announced operational deadline—it is rather an internal benchmark for decision-making rather than a formal cutoff date.
Domestic Political Pressure and Salvini's Stance
The decision to freeze the package comes amid mounting domestic political pressure within Italy itself. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini publicly promised to seek an end to military aid for Ukraine. However, as RBC-Ukraine reported, the government as a whole did not support this initiative, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her displeasure to Salvini over his statements. This episode indicates that the issue of Ukrainian aid remains a point of tension within the ruling coalition, and Meloni likely aims to prevent the escalation of a domestic political conflict before the US elections.
Package Readiness: Foreign Minister's Statement
Despite the freeze, the formal readiness of the 13th package for transfer has been confirmed at the Foreign Ministry level. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani previously stated that the new military aid package for Ukraine is completely ready for shipment. Thus, according to the head of the Italian foreign policy department, the technical and logistical side of the issue has been settled, and the only obstacle remains a political decision. This creates a certain dissonance: on the one hand, the department declares readiness, while on the other, the cabinet postpones the actual transfer until the end of the US election cycle.
For Kyiv, the delay of the 13th package means the continuation of a months-long break in receiving Italian military aid. Given that November 3, 2026, will be the day of the US midterm elections, the next few weeks will determine whether the freeze remains in place or if Rome unblocks the supply immediately after the voting results are tallied. At present, no official statements from the Italian government regarding the date of the package's shipment have been issued.
