In the run-up to the NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled for July 7–8, Rome has commented on reports of alleged potential sabotage of financial support for Kyiv. Italian authorities have officially refuted claims by the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) that Italy opposes long-term commitments regarding arms supplies and funding for 2026–2027.

Rome's Position: No Obstacles to Aid

According to government sources cited by the ANSA agency, Italy remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine. Rome has categorically refuted the thesis that the country opposes the allocation of 70 billion euros to Kyiv. According to the agency's sources, the question of including a specific fixed amount in the text of the final summit declaration was discussed at an early stage, but this caveat was removed several days ago.

At present, there are no obstacles to agreeing on the aid clause in the final declaration. Rome intends to continue supporting the provision of financial and military aid to Ukraine in 2027.

Defense Spending and New Commitments

Issues of defense spending and the upcoming summit were the central theme of a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that the country will fulfill its obligations to the Alliance by increasing defense spending to 2.8% of GDP.

Furthermore, to bolster European security, an Italian SAMP-T air defense battery will be deployed in Turkey in the near future. This move is intended to demonstrate Rome's readiness to actively participate in ensuring security on NATO's southern flank.

Ankara Summit Agenda

At the meeting in Ankara, allies plan to officially agree on a massive aid package totaling 70 billion euros. A key feature of this mechanism will be that funding must be ensured without the direct involvement of the United States. The main financial burden will be shouldered by European member countries of the Alliance and Canada.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following the meeting of the leaders of the "Big Five" (E5) in Berlin, confirmed the desire of European partners to send a strong and uninterrupted signal of solidarity with Kyiv from Ankara. Thus, rumors of disagreements within NATO, sparked by the FAZ publication, proved to be unfounded.