Monitoring Desk
KYIV: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said that Italy “does not intend to waver” in its support for Ukraine as she visited Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
“I wanted to come to Ukraine to reiterate Italy’s full support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, to reiterate that Italy does not intend to waver,” the Prime Minister said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Italian Prime Minister also visited Irpin and Bucha, towns just outside Kyiv devastated during Russia’s unsuccessful attempt to seize the capital last year.
“It is different, seeing it with my own eyes. I will do everything to apprise every Italian of what I have seen,” she said.
Italy has provided weapons and cash to support Ukraine, and earlier this month, agreed to send advanced missile systems that it has jointly developed with France.
Italy to provide jets after consultation with partners
However, Meloni said sending jets is “not on the table” for the moment, and it is a decision to be made “after consultation with international partners.”
President Zelensky criticized earlier remarks of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has had a personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin for years.
Read Also: Global Ransomware Targeting Known Server Vulnerability, Warns Italy
“Mr. Berlusconi… his house was never attacked with missiles daily, I suppose. And thank God his collaborator from Russia did not drive into his yard on a tank and did not destroy his friends and family,” Zelensky said.
Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Kyiv in June 2022 with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
