Premier Giorgia Meloni said the issue
of support for Ukraine as it fights the Russian forces of
invasion was at the centre of talks she had with new NATO
Secretary General Mark Rutte in Rome on Tuesday.
"The common goal remains to build the best possible conditions
for a just peace and coordinating the role NATO can and must
exercise in this regard to help Ukraine look forward," Meloni
told a joint news conference with Rutte.
Italy has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since the Russian
invasion both under Meloni and her predecessor Mario Draghi.
"Italy has always done its part from this point of view," the
premier continued.
"We have got a new military aid package focusing, as always, on
anti-aircraft defence systems, which means, above all, defending
the civilian population.
"Italy continues to give this net support at 360 degrees, going
from the humanitarian point of view as far as reconstruction".
Meloni added that Italy played a "fundamental role within the
Atlantic alliance" and is a "leader in the quality and quantity
of our action.
"We are the top contributor in absolute terms to the (NATO)
missions and therefore also to the NATO budget," she said.
"Our efforts are articulated along the eastern flank (of the
alliance) but also with naval resources in the Mediterranean and
our historic commitment to the Balkan region which is crucial
for Italy".
Rutte thanked Meloni for her leadership on Ukraine and pointed
out that all the members of the alliance, Italy included, have
committed to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP.
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