Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini retained the post of leader of the League party until 2030 and intends to seek an end to further financial and military assistance to Ukraine. He made this statement on October 25 at the party congress in Milan, shortly before the vote, as a result of which he was re-elected.
Salvini promised to bring the issue of stopping the sending of money and weapons to Kiev directly to a meeting of the Italian government. However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously confirmed that Rome will continue to support Ukraine.
How Salvini was re-elected as leader of the League
At the extraordinary party congress held on October 25 in Milan, Salvini received 465 delegate votes. His rival, Senator Massimo Garavaglia, was supported by 146 participants.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the election was held by secret ballot. Salvini headed the party for the fourth time and will remain its leader for another four years — until 2030.
After the results were announced, delegates greeted his victory with applause. On stage, Salvini and Garavaglia exchanged a handshake and embraced.
What Salvini said about ending aid to Ukraine
Even before the vote, Salvini outlined one of the directions of his future work — to achieve a revision of Italian aid to Kiev.
“We cannot continue to send money and weapons to Ukraine,” the politician said addressing the League delegates.
According to Salvini, the re-election will give him the authority to defend this position at a meeting of the Italian Council of Ministers.
He also asked the attendees to raise their hands if they supported his intention to seek an end to financial and military assistance to Ukraine.
Thus, it is not just another public statement: the leader of one of the ruling coalition parties promises to raise the issue directly before the government.
Why Salvini's position diverges from Meloni's course
The League is part of Italy's ruling coalition, and Salvini himself serves as deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and transport.
However, his position on further support for Ukraine differs from that of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
On October 14, speaking in parliament, Meloni stressed that the Italian government has adhered to a consistent course of support for Ukraine for four years.
She also rejected claims that disagreements within the ruling coalition prevent Rome from fulfilling its commitments to Kiev.
At the same time, Salvini has previously opposed continued large-scale financial transfers to Ukraine, calling for a focus on a diplomatic resolution of the war.
Can Italy stop sending money and weapons to Ukraine?
Salvini's re-election strengthens his position within the League, but by itself it does not change Italy's foreign policy.
Stopping financial and military assistance to Ukraine would require relevant decisions from Italian authorities. Currently, the Meloni government has not announced such a change of course.
The main intrigue now is whether Salvini will actually raise the issue at a cabinet meeting and whether representatives of other parties in the ruling coalition will support him.
For now, the deputy prime minister's statement indicates ongoing disagreements on the Ukrainian issue within the Italian government, but does not mean an end to aid to Kiev.
Sources: ANSA — results of the League congress, October 25, 2026; ANSA — Salvini's statement on aid to Ukraine; ANSA — Giorgia Meloni's position of October 14, 2026.
