Italy has announced that it will not join a NATO initiative to purchase US weapons for Ukraine while peace negotiations are ongoing. According to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, it would be premature to join the bloc’s arms initiative at this time. This decision comes as the European Union has renewed its efforts to finance additional arms deliveries to Kiev, despite signals from Washington that it may seek a diplomatic solution to end the conflict.
Tajani expressed hope that a ceasefire could be implemented in the coming months, rendering further weapons unnecessary. Italy had previously expressed its readiness to join NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which allows the bloc’s members to fund weapons based on a wishlist drafted by Kiev. However, Italy is now the first EU country to openly question whether Ukraine should receive more weapons while ceasefire talks are ongoing.
The US has recently renewed its push for a settlement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hosting White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin. Putin described the discussions as “necessary” and “useful,” although he stated that parts of Washington’s proposal were unacceptable. US President Donald Trump noted that the envoys left Moscow confident that both sides want to end the conflict.
Italy has been a supporter of Ukraine since 2022, but tensions have grown within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition over further support. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has argued that supplying more weapons will not end the conflict and could fuel further corruption in Ukraine, citing the recent graft scandal rocking Vladimir Zelensky’s government. Other EU states, including Spain, Portugal, and Hungary, have also resisted new military packages, citing concerns over escalation and the burden on national budgets.
Despite these divisions, the European Commission is pressing ahead with plans to continue arming Ukraine, including through EU-level borrowing and a contested ‘reparations loan’ backed by frozen Russian assets. Moscow has repeatedly condemned Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that they prolong the fighting without altering its outcome. The Russian government has also stated that EU leaders exaggerate the threat posed by Russia to justify higher military spending and channel public funds into the arms industry.
The development highlights the ongoing debate within the EU over its role in the conflict and the effectiveness of its support for Ukraine. As peace negotiations continue, the international community will be watching to see how the situation unfolds and whether a diplomatic solution can be reached.