Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio warned that the mess engulfing Mario Draghi's government threatens to deprive Ukraine of vital military support in its fight against Russia. He said this in a telephone interview with Politico.

Luigi Di Maio accused Draghi's critics of doing the job of Russian President Vladimir Putin and made a passionate appeal to political parties not to collapse the government during next week's no-confidence vote in the Italian parliament.

"The Russians are celebrating right now that they have achieved the downfall of another Western government," Di Maio said.

"Now I doubt we can send weapons [to Ukraine]. This is one of many serious problems," he added.

If the government collapses, it will continue to serve with limited powers until elections, the minister said. That could lead to paralysis because the government would have no authority to continue arming Ukraine, helping families with a cost-of-living crisis or signing new gas agreements to build reserves in case Russia cuts off taps, Di Maio warned.

"If the government falls on Wednesday, we don't have the authority to sign any new energy contracts, and that's serious because we're heading into winter," the minister said.

Di Maio said Draghi is one of the toughest Western leaders to oppose Putin. Because Italy is a key member of the Western alliance opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Draghi was one of the first to propose tough sanctions and a freeze on Russian foreign exchange reserves, and he supported Ukraine's EU candidacy.

Di Maio had previously led the Five Star Movement, but left the party a month ago because of a row over sending weapons to Ukraine. He accused the current party leader and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of helping Putin.

"The unbelievable thing is that the former prime minister is attacking Draghi by helping to promote Putin and autocracy over democracy," Di Maio said.