Italian President: Europe Must “Do More” to Counter Russian Threat
In his message on the occasion of National Unity and Armed Forces Day, Italian President Sergio Mattarella stressed the urgent need to create a joint European defense force in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The Gaze reportі on it, referring to Corriere della Sera.
In recent months Mattarella has increasingly spoken out about the need to strengthen Europe's defenses, making a similar stern warning in May in Portugal, when he and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called for “a more competitive, technologically advanced and, therefore, safer Europe.”
Italian President Sergio Mattarella warned that the “bloody conflict” caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine “requires greater attention and significant efforts to adapt the armed forces in order to create a common European defense force” that will play an important role within NATO.
He also cautioned that “new conflicts have emerged in Europe and the Mediterranean that threaten the security system created in the post-war period and the institutions established to protect it.”
Sergio Mattarella has been a consistent advocate of the idea that Ukraine's security is inseparable from Europe's security.
Meeting with Zelenskyy in July 2025, Mattarella said that “Ukraine's security is inseparable from Europe's security in the fight against those who want to return to the concept of domination in relations between states, which would force us to take a step back almost a century.”
Italy's announcement that it is preparing a 12th package of military aid to Ukraine confirms its continued support for the country. The package will focus on ammunition and SAMP/T air defense systems and could be ready by the end of the year after parliamentary procedures are completed. Earlier, Giorgia Meloni's government had already sent Kyiv 11 aid packages worth around €2.5-3 billion.
Read more on The Gaze: Why Italy Matters More for Ukraine’s Military Support Than It Seems