The Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that Italy is exploring the possibility of transferring the Samp / T air defense system to Slovakia, which will instead supply Ukraine with existing Patriot systems.
The newspaper added that “a process is being studied” for the Slovak government to send the American Patriot system to Germany, where the Ukrainian army will be trained in its use, after which the system will be transferred to Ukraine.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crusetto, in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper today, Saturday, twice evaded answering a question about the supply of the Samp/T system to Ukraine. He said: “We have met here at the Ramstein base to discuss what each country can do. Not everyone can do everything, but together they can do a lot.”
He added that “Italy will send additional assistance to Ukraine after the ratification of the sixth decree,” adding: “Both Ukraine and other countries are satisfied with the assistance that Italy has provided and will continue to provide. It is known that the content (of the first five edicts) was secret”.
And the Italian Defense Ministry reported that Cruzeto, during a meeting between NATO and its allies, assured Ukraine that his country would continue military support for Kyiv. She added: “(Crusito) has made it clear that each country will do its part by providing military assistance to Ukraine for its own defense.”
And the Italian media previously wrote that the decision on the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine was postponed to February next year, due to disagreements in the ruling coalition in Rome and the high price of the Samp / T system and its low number in the Italian army (only 5 systems) .
The total cost of one battery for this system is said to be 750 million euros, but the price of the system that it can transfer to Ukraine is 250 million euros, since France can provide the other part of the system.
The newspaper “Corriere della Sera” previously reported that, according to NATO, Italy gave Ukraine weapons worth between 300 and 500 million euros.
Source: News
