The FT is today reporting that Italy is to join forces with France in supplying air defences to Ukraine. In an article published on Wednesday

"Italy is poised to join forces with France and provide a state-of-the-art missile defence system to Ukraine, as the country’s rightwing prime minister Giorgia Meloni seeks to affirm her solid support for Kyiv. In an interview, defence minister Guido Crosetto said Rome was committed to fulfilling Ukraine’s requests for weapons to shore up its defences.

Crosetto said that an upcoming package of Italian military aid, now being prepared by Meloni’s government, was “probably” going to include “weapons of defence against Russian missile attack”. He declined to offer specifics. But he did say that any decision on the air defences would be taken in conjunction with Paris.

Although the details have not been confirmed, Italy is expected to provide the missile launchers, while France would supply the rockets. France’s defence ministry announced this week that the two countries late last year ordered 700 Aster missiles which are used by this system," it reported.

“Italy will meet requests that have been made by Ukraine within the limits of its possibilities and the means that it has,” Crosetto said. “We will give everything we can give without jeopardising Italian defence. Ukraine and our allies will be happy about it.”