Italian FM: Ukrainian joining NATO is 'dangerous for everybody'
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\Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says that Ukraine joining NATO is important, but that the bloc must approach the issue with caution rather than act impulsively.
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Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajan arrives at Lebanon's government palace to meet with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, January 24, 2024. (AP)
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has posited, during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, that granting Ukraine membership into NATO, while engaged in a war with Russia, is "dangerous for everybody," explaining that "for a full member of NATO this would mean World War III."
However, Tajani asserted that NATO is "working on having Ukraine as a member," but the bloc needs to exercise caution instead of acting impulsively to "pave the way for achieving these goals."
"We want to back you, but these rules are very clear – if there is an attack against a member of NATO, there is an involvement of NATO and for this, we need to be prudent," explained Tajani before adding that the present level of collaboration between the US-led bloc and Kiev "sends a clear message to Russia."
Italy's eighth 'aid package' to reach Ukraine soon
On a similar but different note, Tajani also stated that arms from Italy's eighth aid package to Ukraine would reach Kiev in the coming days. He added that Italy is making every effort to assist Kiev and clarified that the aid provided is not exclusively military in nature.
"Parliament has approved the eighth package, and I think it will arrive in Ukraine these days," Tajani said at the annual Munich Security Conference.
Tajani also referenced the agreement made on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which stipulates that Ukraine will receive a 200 million euro ($215 million) loan aimed at restoring Ukraine's national power grid.
Italy has enacted eight packages of military assistance for Kiev, with the most recent being approved in December. In the same month, Italy's Council of Ministers approved a measure to provide military, humanitarian, and financial aid to Ukraine through 2024.
Italy has been an important contributor to military support via the training of troops and the provision of arms and weapons to Kiev. On January 27, 2023, the Italian Minister of Defense and the French Minister of the Armed Forces announced the decision to donate jointly a medium-long range air defense and anti-missile system SAMP/T to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as to jointly organize and conduct the training of Ukrainian personnel on the same system. The remaining weapons supplied by Italy to Ukraine are largely undisclosed.
According to statistics from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks international aid provided to Ukraine, Italy has contributed support totaling 1.3 billion euros, placing it 15th on the list of donor countries. Approximately 700 million euros of this support constitutes weapons and military equipment.
Read more: Italian approval of sending Ukraine military support hits historic low
