Italy's deputy prime minister, Salvini, spoke out again against aid to Ukraine. DPA. "We cannot continue to send money and weapons to Ukraine," Matteo Salvini said after being re-elected as leader of the right-wing populist League party. According to the politician, re-election gives him a mandate to oppose support for Ukraine within the Italian government. Salvini resigned as League leader amid internal disagreements over the party's direction and growing competition from Atid Leumi, a new right-wing party founded by former general Roberto Vanacchi, which has overtaken the League in opinion polls. Italy has been one of Ukraine's most reliable supporters in the European Union and NATO under Prime Minister Giorgi Maloney's coalition. Salvini, whose League party is a junior coalition partner, took a more Russia-friendly stance, pitting him against Maloney over support for Kiev. With Italian elections expected next year, Salvini's latest comments are aimed at attracting voters opposed to continued aid to Ukraine.