On November 16, the leadership of the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine met with an Italian delegation headed by Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Italian Republic. The delegation included representatives of major Italian enterprises producing a wide range of weapons, military equipment and defense systems, as well as Italian Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo and members of the diplomatic corps.

The Ukrainian side of the meeting was represented by Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleksandr Kamyshyn, his deputies Serhiy Boyev and Hanna Hvozdyar, and Director General of Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC Herman Smetanin. 

The parties discussed cooperation in various sectors of the defense industry, which should significantly strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. Italian industrial and technological leaders in the defense and security sectors offered their projects for implementation. They also discussed cooperation between Italian and Ukrainian manufacturers of military products. 

Among other things, Italian companies expressed interest in cooperation in the aviation industry, demining of Ukraine, production of armored vehicles, airspace protection, and exchange of technological innovations. With regard to the latter, the Italian government is allocating separate funds, part of which will be used to develop military innovations in Ukraine. In addition, Italian scientific institutions will be involved in the development of our technologies. 

The five Italian companies whose representatives participated in the meeting joined the Alliance of Defense Industries, established at the initiative of the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: Leonardo S.p.A., Fincantieri, Elettronica, Iveco Defense Vehicles and FAE Group S.p.A.

Leonardo SpA is one of the largest machine-building holdings in Italy. Structural subdivisions of the holding fulfill orders in the fields of defense, energy, helicopter construction, telecommunications and transport.

Fincantieri SpA. is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the purchase of Vard in 2013, the Fincantieri group doubled in size and became the fourth largest in the world. The company builds both commercial and military vessels.

Elettronica SpA (ELT Group) is a world leader in the field of electronic warfare. ELT participates in the main European defense programmes, provides the armed forces and governments of 30 countries with more than 3,000 high-tech systems.

Iveco Defense Vehicles is engaged in the development of innovative solutions for cars, has a full range of vehicles for use in the field of defense. It produces logistics, protected and armored vehicles, and also sells a full commercial range of Iveco, adapted for military purposes.

FAE Group SpA is a leading manufacturer of tracked machines for forestry, agriculture, roads and mine clearance.

Industrial and technological leaders in the defense and security industries of Italy proposed their projects for implementation in Ukraine. It was also about cooperation between Italian and Ukrainian manufacturers of military products. Among other things, Italian companies have expressed interest in:

• cooperation in the aviation industry,
• demining,
• production of armored vehicles,
• airspace protection,
• exchange of technological innovations.

"Italy is our strategic partner, which has supported Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion, maintaining its position and intentions to this day. And we received another confirmation of this," the Ukrainian Minister Kamyshyn commented on the results of the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Defense of Italy, Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano.

The Italian government allocates separate funds, part of which will be directed to the development of military innovations in Ukraine. In addition, Italian scientific institutes will be involved in the development of our technologies. "Italian scientists will join the work carried out by our developers in order to achieve the results we need as quickly as possible," Kamyshin added.

The creation of the Defense Industries Alliance and the creation of a special Defense Fund was announced at the Defense Industries Forum, which took place in Kyiv on September 29, 2023, bringing together 252 companies from over 30 countries.. Now the Alliance includes 74 companies from more than 20 countries.