Italy announced on December 3rd it is withdrawing its military support for Ukraine, exiting the PURL program for joint NATO weapon purchases for Kyiv, as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated Rome prefers to focus on diplomacy amid ongoing peace deal negotiations. This unexpected move came as Poland, Germany, and Norway were preparing to purchase $500 million worth of Patriot missiles for Ukraine through the same program, with Poland's contribution being $100 million, according to NEXTA TV. The PURL program withdrawal signifies a shift in Italy's strategy, with Tajani emphasizing a preference for diplomatic solutions. Earlier in the day, Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski noted that the funds Poland intended for the European Peace Facility, which Hungary had blocked, were redirected to this Patriot missile purchase. This development occurs within the broader context of ongoing conflict and diplomatic exchanges related to Ukraine. In separate incidents, launches of "Shahed-136/131" type UAVs were reported from Milerevo air base in an eastern direction, with two groups of launches observed, according to strategic aviation reports. Additionally, a Ukrainian journalist encountered Yelizaveta Krivonogikh, identified as an illegitimate daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Paris, where she declined to comment when approached by the journalist, as reported by NEXTA TV.
