Meloni made the announcement shortly after United States President Joe Biden said the US is supplying Kyiv with Patriot missiles along with Germany and Romania.
“We really focused on an issue that is extremely important, which is air defence because it means defending civilians above all and the critical infrastructure that Russia is continuing to attack,” said Meloni.
“[We saw evidence of this] yesterday with a paediatric hospital struck in Kyiv and the cancer-affected children in the streets,” said Meloni after an attack she had described as “horrible”.
Meloni added that Italy will reach defence spending of 2 per cent of GDP as requested by the United States and NATO in its own timeframe, given budget constraints.
“[We are] among the largest contributors of personnel in almost all missions and peacekeeping operations because our know-how is in great demand,” Meloni said.
ANSA
