"It is better to strengthen the ability to equip Ukraine with effective air defense systems … This allows us to protect Ukraine’s civilian population without the situation getting out of hand," she told Corriere della Sera.
The right-wing politician said that was being achieved with the help of Italian-donated SAMP/T air defense systems.
Meloni called for caution after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the allies to let Ukraine use longer-range Western weapons against targets in Russia. He said some of the member states were ready to reconsider those limits.
Russia called the move reckless, warning that it could lead to a direct military confrontation between Russia and the West. The Kremlin spokesman described Stoltenberg’s proposal as provocative, saying that the Russian military was not sitting idle.