Italy has made it clear that it will not permit Ukraine to use Italian-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed this stance ahead of a meeting of European Union Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels.
Tajani stated to Politica, "Each country decides for itself. We have sent mostly defensive weapons, and we are now about to send the new SAMP/T battery, which is defensive and cannot be used on Russian soil. We reiterate that we are not at war with Russia; NATO is not at war with Russia, so Italy's position remains that our weapons should be used only within Ukrainian territory."
This statement comes in response to ongoing discussions about Ukraine's potential use of foreign-supplied weapons in its conflict with Russia.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Ukrainian authorities in Washington are preparing to present a list of potential targets within Russia for possible strikes using American long-range weapons.
Italy's position aligns with its broader policy of providing defensive support to Ukraine while maintaining a stance of non-engagement in direct conflict with Russia.
The SAMP/T battery that Italy is sending to Ukraine is specifically designed for defensive operations and is not intended for use in offensive actions on Russian soil.
