For Ukraine's struggle for freedom: Meloni assures Selenskyj support

Ukrainian President Selenskyj congratulates Italy's election winner Giorgia Meloni.

For Ukraine's struggle for freedom: Meloni assures Selenskyj support

Ukrainian President Selenskyj congratulates Italy's election winner Giorgia Meloni. She, in turn, retaliates by promising that her country will continue to stand by Ukraine's side in the future. In the past, Melonis' two potential coalition partners tended to lean towards Russia's President Putin.

The head of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia party, Giorgia Meloni, has promised Ukraine the support of the future Italian government. "You know that you can count on our loyal support for the cause of the freedom of the Ukrainian people. Stay strong and stand firm in your faith!" Meloni wrote on Twitter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meloni was responding to the congratulations that Selenskyj had given her on her party's victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday. "We welcome Italy's continued support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia's aggression. We count on a productive partnership with the new Italian government," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.

The right-wing coalition led by the Fratelli d'Italia had secured an absolute majority in both chambers of parliament in the election. The Fratelli d'Italia received the highest share of the vote with 26 percent. Meloni therefore has good prospects of becoming prime minister. Talks on forming a government began on Tuesday.

Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been one of the strongest supporters of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine - although Italy is also heavily dependent on Russian gas. The Eurosceptic Meloni supports Draghi's line in this regard - even though her allies, the head of the right-wing national Lega, Matteo Salvini, and Silvio Berlusconi from the conservative Forza Italia have maintained close ties with Moscow for years.