ISTANBUL

Italy is considering avoiding direct purchases of US weapons to support Ukraine, despite a US push for European countries to buy its weapons, Italian media reported on Wednesday.

While Germany is urging European allies to allocate funds to buy American weapons to support Ukraine, as proposed by the US, Italy is reportedly looking for other routes.

Italy's decision is primarily linked to the fact tha,t unlike Germany, its fiscal room to allocate such funds is "practically nonexistent," sources told daily La Stampa.

Another reason is reported to be weapons systems already provided to Kyiv being based on different technological configurations.

The same sources said the only US arms acquisitions Italy has planned are a previously scheduled batch of F-35s for the coming decade.

According to the daily, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also said they had never discussed purchasing additional American weapons.

The newspaper, however, noted that Italy is not distancing itself from the US or supporting Ukraine but rather exploring alternative ways to accommodate Trump.

At a Monday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration with Russia regarding the lack of progress in Ukraine peace efforts.

Trump threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russia if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days. He also announced a new arrangement where the US will manufacture and supply weapons to Ukraine through NATO, with European allies bearing the full cost.