Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travelled to Kyiv Tuesday to emphasise her government’s position in support of Ukraine – a likely attempt to cover up for the pro-Russian sentiments recently voiced by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
Meloni arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday morning after meeting her Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, where US President Joe Biden also gave a speech ahead of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Following Berlusconi’s harsh words against Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Meloni first refrained from commenting, preferring to rely on her party members to calm the waters.
In Kyiv, however, Meloni could not escape journalist questions at a press conference with Zelenskyy, where she was asked about the positions of Berlusconi and Salvini, two politicians known for their support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meloni assured that parties in her centre-right coalition, which includes the parties of both Berlusconi and Salvini, have always backed Ukraine.
“We are people who respect the mandate signed with the citizens”, she said.
Berlusconi and Salvini did not comment on Meloni’s Ukraine visit or on Putin’s recent address to the nation.
Zelenskyy, however, had harsh words for Berlusconi.
“I believe that Berlusconi’s house has never been bombed, never have they come with tanks to his garden, no one has killed his relatives, he has never had to pack his suitcase at 3 am to escape, and all this thanks to Russia’s brotherly love,” he said.
“Different leaders have the right to think, the real problem is the approach of the Italian society that gave that leader a mandate (…) I wish peace to all Italian families, even those who do not support us, but ours is a great tragedy that must be understood. I want them to come here and see with their own eyes the trail of blood they (Russia) left behind”, he added.
To gain Berlusconi’s support, Zelenskyy jokingly offered to send him a crate of Vodka with a “very sweet letter” to “one of his closest friends” – as Putin did just a few months ago.
“What we heard this morning was propaganda that we already know, the facts are different”, Meloni said, commenting on Putin’s words in the Duma.
“Part of my heart hoped he would say different words, expecting a step forward (…) He said he works for diplomacy to avoid conflict but the truth is that there is someone who is the invader and someone who is defending himself. And the paradox is that those who are the victims of this aggression are still trying to present a peace plan”, she added.
Before meeting Zelenskyy, Meloni visited Bucha and Irpin, cities symbolic of the Ukrainian people’s struggle against the Russian armed forces.
During her visit, Meloni offered local authorities in Irpin two generators to support critical infrastructure, which is part of a batch of 52, worth more than €660,000 donated by the Italian government to Ukraine. Forty-five fire trucks were also donated.
The government is also currently considering the possibility of increasing the production of ammunition in view of the renewal of the new three-year Defence Technical-Industrial Plan, scheduled from 2024, so as to meet the armaments needs Kyiv has expressed.
Recently, there has been an increase in production related to line efficiency and expansion of some departments, due to an increase in industrial activities in support of defence and investments made.
“When there is an attack all weapons are defensive. Sending aircraft is not on the table at the moment; that is a decision to be made with international partners. We have focused on anti-aircraft defence systems, Samp-T, Spada, and Skyguard. The priority is to defend infrastructure and citizens”, Meloni said at the press conference in Kyiv.
“Italy will give every possible assistance so that the conditions for negotiations are created, but until then it will give all kinds of military, financial, and civilian support. Those who also support Ukraine militarily are those who work for peace”, she added.
(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)
Source: euractiv.com
