ROME, January 23. /TASS/. Italy’s opposition party Five Star Movement stands against sending more weapons to Ukraine as it will lead to further escalation rather than the conflict’s settlement, its leader and former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Monday.

"We see in this [further arms supplies] only further escalation, only the continuation of arms supplies and no prospects for talks. Our position is well-known: we support Ukraine, but Italy has already made its contribution, and now it is time to contribute to diplomacy. That is why we don’t support new weapons supplies," the ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

He noted that only the types of weapons to be sent to Ukraine are being discussed internationally, instead of prospects for peaceful settlement.

The Repubblica newspaper reported earlier that the Italian government was expected to approve another batch, the sixth one since last March, of new weapons for Kiev. The list will include Aspide guided missiles. However, SAMP-T multiple rocket launchers are not on the list of such weapons due to technical problems.

Italy’s parliament has voted for two resolutions on assistance, including military aid, to Ukraine. The Five Star party voted in favor of the first resolution in March 2022 and last December, already in opposition, voted against it.