Not just Britain and France. The British reveal the name of the third European country that supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles

Ukrainian Su-24, aircraft on which the SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles developed by MBDA were integrated. Photo source: European Defense @YouTube

Grant Shapps made the announcement while visiting the UK factory where MBDA manufactures the Storm Shadow missile, which has been used by Ukrainian forces to attack Russian targets.

“I think the Storm Shadow was a tremendous weapon,” Shapps told The Times of London.

“The UK, France and Italy are positioning themselves for the use of this weapon, particularly in Crimea. These weapons make a very significant difference,” he said.

Britain previously announced it would send Storm Shadows to Ukraine, while France announced it would send its version of the missile, known as the SCALP-EG. But for the most part, Italy has refused to provide details about the weapons it is sending to Ukraine and has never reported that it has shipped the MBDA missile.

On Monday, a spokesman for the Italian Ministry of Defense declined to comment on Shapps’ remarks when asked by a Defense News reporter.

Italy first purchased the Storm Shadow in 1999, equipping it with around 200 missiles, which it used during the NATO operation in Libya in 2011.

Italy, like Romania. Military aid to Ukraine is kept secret

Scalp / Storm Shadow – MBDA

In January, Italy’s parliament voted to extend arms supplies to Ukraine through 2024, although there were some concerns about voters and opposition from some parties in parliament.

Until now, the country’s right-wing government has kept secret the list of weapons packages for Ukraine, although it reportedly plans to send Stinger surface-to-air missiles, bomb launchers, anti-tank weapons, Browning heavy machine guns, MG light machine guns, counter- improvised explosive devices, MLRS, self-propelled howitzers PzH 2000.

Last year, the government in Rome announced that it would send a SAMP/T air defense system together with France. Italy has five such systems.

Asked this month whether Italy would respond to Ukrainian requests for another system, given the increase in Russian missile attacks in Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was evasive, saying: “We are doing everything we can to help Ukraine and to provide answers through the tools we have.”

Speaking to Britain’s The Times, Shapps also criticized Germany for not sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

“France, Great Britain and Italy have all proven Taurus, Storm Shadow or Scalp to be highly effective. Although there is a limited supply, Germany has many available. Therefore, yes, they must be provided. Clearly, it would have a significant impact,” the British official said.

In the democracies, the war machine starts more slowly, but then picks up speed

US Military Aid / Photo: Marco A. Gomez, defense.gov

Author’s note: Although EU leaders agreed at the summit in Brussels (April 17-18) to continue “unreserved” assistance to Ukraine, so far no meaningful support has materialized.

Looking at Ukraine’s request for Patriot systems, apart from Germany, the other states that have them have refused to make them available to Ukraine. Although defensive reasons have been invoked, behind the decision not to send these systems to Kiev are actually electoral interests.

This year, several rounds of elections, including European Parliament elections, are to be held in many states of the European Union. The parties in power remain reserved on certain subjects that would allow far-right or left-wing formations to gather more votes from undecideds.

Europe, these days, seems the prisoner of democracy but, paradoxically, this is actually its greatest asset, because it proves that democracy really works. There will also be a delay in European support for Ukraine, as was the case with the US. But, once the situation is overcome, things will probably go faster than before.

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