Rome “does not intend to waver” in its help for Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated throughout her go to to Kyiv Tuesday.
“I wanted to do it (come to Ukraine) to reiterate Italy’s full support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, to reiterate that Italy does not intend to waver,” Meloni informed a joint press convention with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
With the primary anniversary of the Russian invasion simply days away, the Italian chief additionally visited Irpin and Bucha, cities simply exterior Kyiv that had been devastated throughout Moscow’s unsuccessful bid to grab the capital final yr.
“It’s different, seeing it with one’s own eyes. I will do everything to tell every Italian what I’ve seen,” she stated.
NATO member Italy has offered money and weapons to assist Ukraine, and earlier this month agreed to ship cell surface-to-air missile techniques that it has collectively developed with France.
But Meloni stated sending jets is “not on the table” for the second and it is a determination to be made “in consultation with international partners.”
Zelenskyy criticized earlier remarks of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has a private relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin going again years.
“Mr Berlusconi … his house was never bombed with missiles daily, I suppose. And thank God his partner from Russia did not drive into his yard on a tank and did not destroy his family and friends,” Zelenskyy stated.
Meloni took workplace in October and leads the far-right Brothers of Italy celebration however has additionally distanced herself from the extra pro-Russian companions in her governing coalition.
Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia celebration is the junior accomplice within the coalition, has sought to shift blame for the conflict away from Moscow, most just lately earlier this week when he criticized Zelenskyy.
Meloni’s workplace responded by emphasizing its “firm and committed” help for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, chief of the far-right League celebration, has up to now spoken admiringly of Putin and even worn a T-shirt bearing the Russian president’s face.
Former Italian premier Mario Draghi visited Kyiv in June 2022 with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
