By KYIV. Jan 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Italy is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine and is negotiating with France on air defense: the dispatch of jointly produced air defense systems is currently being discussed, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Saturday.
"The sixth military defense package [for Ukraine] is still to be finalized… We are also discussing with the French to perfect the technical point of view of sending air defense systems based on joint technologies between Rome and Paris," the minister said.
At the same time, Tajani noted with regret that "Even Putin concluded a truce for internal purposes and unilaterally. We must continue to work for peace, but all these signs do not allow us to be optimistic. There are some international players, such as China, Turkey and the United States could change the situation at the diplomatic level, but there are no real manifestations of openness from the Russian side yet," he said.
In addition, the Italian Foreign Minister announced constant contacts with Washington on issues of assistance to Ukraine.
Recently the media wrote that the United States was allegedly asking Italy to speed up the next defense package for Ukraine and it may include SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile systems.
