Italy is reportedly blocking a proposed NATO commitment to continue military aid for Ukraine into 2027, signaling growing divisions within the alliance over long-term support for Kiev.
According to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), NATO members approved a €70 billion ($80 billion) military aid package for Ukraine in 2026, but Italy has refused to endorse language that would lock the alliance into maintaining a similar level of support next year.
The disputed clause reportedly states that NATO members should “maintain at least a comparable level” of military assistance in 2027. Diplomatic sources cited by FAZ said the wording remains unresolved and could still be altered before the alliance’s annual summit.
NATO Divisions Deepen Ahead of Ankara Summit
The issue is expected to be revisited during a new round of ambassador-level talks scheduled for Thursday, just days before NATO leaders gather for the annual summit in Ankara on July 7.
Italy’s reluctance highlights increasing pressure within the alliance as member states debate the sustainability of long-term military and financial support for Ukraine amid ongoing economic challenges.
While Rome has consistently backed Ukraine since the conflict with Russia escalated, the government appears increasingly cautious about open-ended commitments.
Italy Prioritizing Domestic Economic Pressures
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto recently informed parliament that Rome would not support NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) — a mechanism designed to fund US weapons purchases for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also indicated that Italy may distance itself from broader EU defense-financing programs, arguing that the country must prioritize rising energy prices and domestic economic concerns ahead of national elections next year.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has been even more vocal, criticizing continued arms shipments to Ukraine and questioning their effectiveness.
Salvini has argued that sending additional weapons will not bring peace and warned that more funding could worsen corruption risks inside Ukraine.
Questions Over NATO Burden-Sharing
The newly approved €70 billion package is not entirely new funding. Reports indicate that around €30 billion comes from an existing EU loan, while the remaining €40 billion depends on voluntary contributions from NATO member states.
Meanwhile, Politico reported last week that the United States is not expected to participate directly in this particular funding mechanism, increasing pressure on European allies.
Concerns over burden-sharing have also intensified. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard previously criticized the disproportionate role Nordic countries have played in supporting Ukraine.
She noted that nations with a combined population of fewer than 30 million people account for nearly one-third of NATO’s military support to Kiev, calling the arrangement unsustainable.
Russia Condemns Western Military Support
Russia has repeatedly condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, claiming they prolong the war without changing the final outcome.
Moscow has also argued that the scale of military assistance demonstrates NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict, a claim consistently rejected by Western officials.
Italy’s current position could become a major test for alliance unity as NATO prepares for its upcoming summit, where Ukraine’s future support will remain a central issue.
