Italy signed an agreement with Ukraine to launch the 11 million euro ($11.9 million) Pro.UKR project, aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development and food security in Odesa Oblast, Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval reported on March 19.
"If Russia does not plan to invade its neighbors again, it is not clear why it should not accept security guarantees that are only defensive," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the proposal needed further discussion and that Italy was awaiting the outcome of the upcoming call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Italy does not plan to participate in a peacekeeping force on the ground in eastern Ukraine to guarantee a potential ceasefire, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said on March 15.
A Ukrainian soldier on leave provided first aid to a victim of a stabbing attack in Venice on March 10, saving his life, according to the soldier's testimony and the Italian media.
"We need to think about more durable solutions" than solely sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on the sidelines of the EU leaders' meeting in Brussels. "It’s a different thing than entering NATO, but it implies extending the coverage that NATO countries have also to Ukraine," she added.
"I had a productive meeting with the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy (Giorgia Meloni) to develop a joint action plan for ending the war with a just and lasting peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
Rome signed an agreement with Kyiv on Feb. 28 to provide Ukraine with 13 million euros ($13.5 million) directed towards the country's Energy Support Fund, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced.
Key developments on Feb. 28: * Zelensky, Trump get into heated argument while speaking with journalists in Oval Office * US terminates support for Ukraine's energy grid restoration, NBC reports * Trump may halt all military aid to Ukraine following Oval Office clash, WP reports * Kremlin officials tout Zelensky-Trump clash as 'historic' * Italy
Two explosions took place on the oil tanker Seajewel, moored in the Italian city of Savona on Feb. 18, with the vessel allegedly transporting Russian oil to Europe, Italian publication IVG reported.
The project, funded by the Italian government, aims to make Ukraine's energy system "more resilient and decentralized" in accordance with the "Build Back Better" principle.
Key developments on Jan. 28: * Putin claims Zelensky doesn't have a right to sign any potential peace deal * 'Pure propaganda' — Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna * Italian parliament extends military support for Ukraine through 2025 * SBU says it dismantled Russian spy network targeting F-16 jets * Government dismisses
Earlier, the Italian Senate approved the measure with 192 votes in favor and 41 against.
"(The military aid package) is already on its way to Ukraine. This is modern weaponry that will help our soldiers to deliver powerful strikes against the enemy," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
"Now is the moment — perhaps the most critical moment in the past three years — to increase support," Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told the president.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 16 for a "series of institutional meetings," Italy's Defense Ministry announced.
Kyiv and Rome are discussing the possibility of purchasing Italian-made air defense systems and ammunition using profits from immobilized Russian assets, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Jan. 11.
Ukraine's president will travel to Italy on Jan. 9 following the Ramstein summit in Germany.
The websites had to shut down temporarily, Italy's cybersecurity agency said, but no flights were disrupted. A pro-Russian hacker group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Italy has delivered 10 military aid packages to Kyiv which have included advanced systems like the French-Italian SAMP/T air defense units.
"It's about our democracy, it's about influencing our public opinion, it's about what happens in Africa, it's about raw materials, it's about the instrumentalization of migration. We need to know it's a very wide idea of security," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
"I hope to talk about peace, about peacekeeping, as soon as possible in Ukraine, but also in Gaza and Lebanon," Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told journalists in Madrid when asked about the possibility of Rome deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine.
European NATO foreign ministers began discussing a plan to gradually increase the alliance’s defense spending target from 2% of their GDP to 3% by 2030, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 12, citing undisclosed sources.
The U.K. pledged to provide additional long-range weapons, artillery systems, and robotic systems, while French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of opening a training center for drone operators in France, according to the announcement.
"Looking at a future of peace and prosperity also means looking at reconstruction, and I am happy to announce that the 'Ukraine Recovery Conference' will be held in Rome on 10 and 11 July 2025," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
"I will meet separately in each country with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. I will try to be swift, and then I will present the victory plan to all our partners at Ramstein," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"By the end of the month the new Samp/T system will be delivered to Ukraine, and we know how much every minute of delay costs," Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on Sept. 17.
Ukraine is building weapons underground to supply the military with arms in the event of delays in military aid from abroad, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Ambrosetti International Economic Forum in Italy on Sept. 7.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders on the sidelines of the Cernobbio Forum in Italy on Sept. 7.
Ukraine is grateful for air defenses provided by its partners, but they are still "not enough to secure our entire territory and repel every Russian attack," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his visit to Italy on Sept. 6.
The RAI news team were the first to publish a foreign media report of Ukraine's incursion in Kursk Oblast.
Russia's Foreign Ministry claimed that the journalists crossed the border into Kursk Oblast illegally while reporting on Ukraine's ongoing offensive in the region.
