Tens of thousands demonstrated in Italy to demand an end to arms shipments to Ukraine

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Rome on Saturday to bring peace to Ukraine and to demand that the Italian government stop sending weapons to counter the Russian invasion.

Demonstrators carried a large banner that read, “No to war, no to sending weapons”.

Italy, one of the founding members of NATO, has supported Ukraine since the conflict began at the end of February, by supplying it with weapons, in particular.

Far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the matter wouldn’t change and that the government was planning to send additional military equipment soon.

But others, including former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, argue that Italy should step up negotiations instead.

“The weapons were sent at first under the pretext that they would prevent an escalation,” one of the demonstrators, Roberto Zanotto, told AFP.

“After nine months, it seems to me that there is an escalation… Look at the facts: sending weapons didn’t help stop the war…Weapons are fueling conflict”.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries, including Italy, pledged to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.