Premier Giorgia Meloni told a news
conference on Saturday that "Ukraine knows it can count on
Italy's all-round support" after meeting Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan.
She added that a decision had not been made on whether Italy
would help to train Ukrainian pilots in using F16 jets.
The leaders also met last weekend during a visit to Rome by
Zelensky during which he had talks with Italian President Sergio
Mattarella and Pope Francis too.
"It is important to continue dialogue between Ukraine and Italy
on bilateral relations," Zelensky said in a Telegram post
featuring a video of the meeting with Meloni.
"The parties discussed Italy's political and defence support for
Ukraine and the initial results of the May 13 visit to Italy.
"We must improve our air-defence capacity, including via the
training of our pilots".
Italy is to train Ukrainian recruits in schools and military
installations in Italy as well as taking part in EU-Ukraine
training programmes in Brussels, Poland and Germany, Defence
Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday.
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