On Tuesday Crosetto at Copasir, he tightens his grip on military aid to Ukraine. Here's what might come in the package

It tightens on the 13th military aid package for Ukraine. Speaking at question time in the Senate, and answering a question on military aid to Kiev, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that the package has been prepared and could be discussed by Copasir, the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic, next week. The hearing, Montecitorio said, will be Tuesday 10 November at 3pm. The package should be approved after Crosetto has informed Copasir.

«We will respect the pacts we have made with our European allies, NATO and with Ukraine, and the package has been prepared this year too and I think it will be discussed at Copasir next week», stated the minister. «Despite everything, we have prepared this thirteenth package, maintaining a commitment we made in the Chamber and as a Government. And we will continue to maintain it", added Crosetto, explaining that the preparation times are linked to the change in Ukrainian military needs and the difficulty of obtaining the required materials. “The threats have changed, as have the things needed to stop them,” underlined the minister.

Crosetto sent a clear message: «Those who think that a disengagement by Italy could somehow end the war do not understand that all the other nations would continue to keep their word and continue to help and - furthermore - that the possibility of conquering Ukraine would increase the Russian will to continue the war: it is a fairly simple reasoning that I still agree with and share today». The head of Defense explained that «this package was prepared because the situation on the ground in Ukraine has profoundly changed, which until recently managed to stop 90% of attacks while now it stops 10%, because Russian technology has evolved exponentially and the speed of the new shaed makes it difficult, often impossible, to stop them. So Ukraine's request has also changed." Crosetto also said that Kiev is asking for "things that are not available, so the intensity of the packages has been reduced precisely because, as time passed and aid was sent, the things that were really needed were no longer there and were difficult to send".

«I will also propose the possibility of extending the mechanism of the decree» also for next year, «which was not chosen by the Meloni government». «There are people who seem to have forgotten, the mechanism was chosen and voted for by the Draghi government and practically all the parties of the current minority and majority. Then over time the positions evolved", but "if it was right then it becomes difficult to explain why it is unfair now. As far as I'm concerned, the government will maintain the line it has followed in these 4 years", concluded the minister.

Although the contents remain confidential, according to informed sources consulted by the Reuters agency the package could include Aster interceptor missiles intended for the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system. Kiev has repeatedly called for increased air defense capabilities to counter Russian missile and drone attacks on cities and critical infrastructure.