(dell'inviato Mattia Bernardo Bagnoli)
(ANSA) - KIEV, 02 OTT - Italy working on its eighth arms
package for Ukraine, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio
Tajani told President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the
EU Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv Monday. He said Italy is
ready to help Ukraine in protecting its infrastructure next
winter too. Tajani also guaranteed Italy's concrete support in
the Ukrainian path to EU membership also through the support of
some institutions, for example through the Guardia di Finanza
tax police. Furthermore, he told Zelensky that Ukraine will be a
priority of Italy's term as president of the G7 next year in the
face-to-face meeting, reportedly one of the few the Ukrainian
leader has had, besides the one with EU High Representative for
Foreign and Security Affairs Josep Borrell.
The encounter took place "in a spirit of great and special
mutual friendship between the governments," official sources
said. Zelensky, meanwhile, welcomed Monday's statement on the
Italian sponsorship of the reconstruction of Odesa Cathedral.
The historic Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration was hit
and badly damaged during Russian missile attacks on Odesa on
July 23 in which at least two people died and over 20 were
injured. Tajani stressed the symbolic importance of this act.
"We have signed an agreement for the reconstruction of Odesa
Cathedral and this is a political and cultural message for
Ukraine," Tajani said as he arrived at a European Foreign
Affairs Council. "We are here to strengthen Ukraine and
international law. "There can be no peace without justice".
Tajani said during the Council that Ukraine can count on the
Italian government's support in its battle for freedom,
according to diplomatic sources. Italy has been a strong
supporter of Ukraine since Moscow's invasion last year, both
under the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni and that of her
predecessor Mario Draghi. This support has been shown both by
military and other aid aid and backing for the successive rafts
of Western sanctions on Russia. Zelensky has frequently lauded
Meloni for her unstinting support. She has also been praised by
other leaders for this reason. (ANSA).