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 Alexander Kamyshin, 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. 

Currently, the Alliance of Defense Industries includes 74 companies from more than 20 countries that have expressed their readiness to contribute to the development of the Ukrainian defense industry. In September, the First International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC1) was held in Kyiv with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, bringing together 252 companies from over 30 countries.