Premier Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday that she was visiting Ukraine to reiterate her government's support for Kyiv after the Russian invasion and see first-hand what sort of help the Ukrainian people need.
"I am honoured," Meloni said as she got off the train in which
she arrived in Kyiv.
"I think it is my duty to be here to reiterate the position of
the Italian government and perhaps also to personally understand
what a people fighting for its freedom needs.
"It's always different when you see things with your own eyes
and I think it (this visit) also helps the Italian people to
understand.
"I'm curious and determined to understand what this people
needs".
Her visit comes just days before the first anniversary of the
Russian invasion. She will go to Bucha and Irpin, two cities of
huge symbolic importance for the Ukrainian resistance where
hundreds of civilians were killed, and have talks with Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky in the afternoon.
Meloni, who was sworn in as Italy's first woman premier last
October, has continued the policy of her predecessor, ex-premier
Mario Draghi, of staunchly supporting Kyiv and sending military
aid.
She is expected to stress to Zelensky that Italy's support for
Kyiv will be unwavering as long as she is in charge.
Her visit comes after furore over comments critical of Zelensky
by ex-premier and Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi, one of
her alliance partners.
Another, Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Matteo
Salvini, has expressed reservations in the past about the policy
of sending military aid to Ukraine.
League leader Salvini, who used to be an admirer of Russian
President Vladimir Putin, has criticised Moscow's invasion of
its neighbour.
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