Despite differences within Italy's ruling coalition, Giorgia Meloni assured Ukrainians of Rome's full support. "I wanted (to come to Kyiv) to reiterate Italy's full support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and to reaffirm that Italy has no intention of weakening," he said. Italian Prime Minister during a press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Italian leader notably visited Irpin and Boutcha, two cities where massacres were committed during the Russian occupation in the spring of 2022, explaining that "seeing it with your own eyes is different" and that she "will do everything to tell everyone the Italians what [she has] seen".
Referring to possible additional arms deliveries to Kyiv, she said Rome was "focused on anti-aircraft defense systems", already promised in cooperation with France, but sending planes was "a decision to take with international partners".
Volodymyr Zelensky for his part harshly criticized the recent remarks of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a personal friend of Vladimir Putin who launched a formal attack against him in mid-February. “Mr. Berlusconi, his house was never bombed daily, I suppose. And thank God his Russian partner didn't enter his garden with a tank, destroy his family and friends," he said.
On Monday evening, Goiorgia Meloni also spoke by phone with US President Joe Biden, who had just returned to Poland from a surprise visit to kyiv. "The two leaders discussed their ongoing close coordination on support for Ukraine, including assistance on security, economic and humanitarian issues," according to the Italian government.
Since taking office in October, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia party, has reiterated her country's support for kyiv. In her first speech to parliament, she promised to "continue to be a reliable NATO partner in supporting Ukraine", following in the footsteps of her predecessor Mario Draghi.
Mario Draghi, supporter of Volodymyr Zelensky, visited Kiev in June with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Prime Minister must, however, manage the presence in her coalition of pro-Russian partners, notably the head of the League, Matteo Salvini, and the leader of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi.
On February 12, Silvio Berlusconi castigated the Ukrainian president, whom he said he viewed "very negatively" by assuring that he would not have met him if he were president of the Council. The executive immediately responded by reassuring the "firm and convinced support" of the Italian government to Ukraine.
