Italy joins growing list of weapon donors to help Ukraine’s defense

ROME – Italy on Monday joined a long list of countries promising weaponry to Ukraine as the East European country defends itself against an invasion by Russia.

The pledge by Rome took the number of nations in line to deliver military hardware and funding to Kyiv to over a dozen, including the United States and Canada.

The Italian cabinet signed off on a measure authorizing the dispatch of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, mortars and Milan, or Panzerfaust, anti-tank weapons. Italian media had claimed Israeli-made Spike missiles would be included in the package but a defense source said that was doubtful since Israel would need to approve their use and would be unlikely to do so.

Among other weaponry on the Italian list, which will need to approved by parliament this week, were Browning heavy machine guns, MG-type light machine guns and counter-IED systems.

The consignment could be flown to Romania or Poland and delivered over the border to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Germany has broken its long standing rule on not supplying weapons to countries at war with a promise to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons, 500 Stinger missiles, nine howitzers and 14 armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Sweden has pledged to send 5,000 anti-tank weapons, while Finland is is dispatching 1,500 rocket launchers and 2,500 assault rifles.

Norway is also reversing a policy of not supplying combatant countries by delivering up to 2,000 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons. “Norway has strict policies regarding exports of military equipment, but Ukraine now faces extraordinary circumstances,” said prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

The Netherlands will also send 200 Stinger missiles following a specific request to the European Union for the surface-to-air weapon.

The EU has in turn established a fund of 450 million euros ($504m) to reimburse member states for weapons they send to Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the move “a turning point in the history of European integration,” on Monday.

Describing Italy’s decision to send arms, Italian defense minister Lorenzo Guerini said, “This is an important response that gives a sign of the concrete solidarity for Ukraine. Whoever wanted to divide us has been disappointed. NATO is stronger, Europe is more united.”

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——周一，意大利加入了向乌克兰提供武器的众多国家行列，这个东欧国家正在抵御俄罗斯的入侵。

罗马的这一承诺使承诺向基辅提供军事装备和资金的国家数量超过了十几个，其中包括美国和加拿大。

意大利内阁批准了一项决议，授权向意大利派遣“毒刺”地对空导弹、迫击炮和“米兰”（又称“铁拳”）反坦克导弹。意大利媒体曾声称，以色列制造的“长钉”导弹也将包含在内，但一位国防消息人士表示，这种说法值得怀疑，因为以色列需要批准使用这些导弹，而他们不太可能这样做。

意大利的武器清单中还包括勃朗宁重机枪、MG型轻机枪和反简易爆炸装置系统，这些武器需要在本周获得议会批准。

这批货物可以空运到罗马尼亚或波兰，然后越过边境运往乌克兰。

与此同时，德国打破了其长期以来不向交战国提供武器的原则，承诺向乌克兰提供 1000 件反坦克武器、500 枚毒刺导弹、9 门榴弹炮和 14 辆装甲车。

瑞典承诺提供 5000 件反坦克武器，而芬兰则将派遣 1500 具火箭发射器和 2500 支突击步枪。

挪威也正在改变以往不向交战国提供武器的政策，向乌克兰交付至多2000件M72反坦克武器。“挪威对军事装备出口有着严格的政策，但乌克兰现在面临着特殊情况，”首相约纳斯·加尔·施托雷表示。

荷兰还将应欧盟的特别请求，向欧盟提供 200 枚毒刺地对空导弹。

欧盟也设立了 4.5 亿欧元（5.04 亿美元）的基金，用于补偿成员国向乌克兰输送的武器。

欧盟外交政策负责人何塞普·博雷尔周一称此举是“欧洲一体化历史上的一个转折点”。

意大利国防部长洛伦佐·盖里尼在描述意大利向乌克兰提供武器的决定时说：“这是对乌克兰的一项重要回应，表明了我们对乌克兰的切实声援。任何企图分裂我们的人都失望了。北约更加强大，欧洲更加团结。”

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。