Also guns and ammunition
Rome pledges help to Zelenskyy ‘as long as it is needed’
05/13/2023, 8:50 p.m
During his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Meloni pledged help to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Your country would stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes – and beyond. During a subsequent audience with the Pope, Zelenskyj urges him to condemn Russia’s crimes.
During a visit to Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for further support for the defense against the Russian war of aggression. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised the guest from Kiev help “as long as it is necessary and beyond,” as she said after a working lunch. Selenskyj had previously met President Sergio Mattarella. This was followed by an audience with Pope Francis. After landing on Twitter, Zelenskyy wrote of an “important visit to achieve victory for Ukraine”.
Mattarella expressed his country’s solidarity to Zelenskyy. Italy is “fully on the side” of Ukraine, which has been fighting off a Russian invasion for a good 14 months. “It’s an honor to have you here in Rome,” Mattarella said. Afterwards we went to the official residence of the Prime Minister. Meloni warmly greeted Zelenskyj, whom she called “my friend”, in the courtyard of the Palazzo Chigi. She assured Ukraine of further support – and meant by that also weapons and ammunition. These are necessary for peace. Kiev must have a strong position in negotiations, “because peace cannot follow capitulation. That would be a dangerous peace for Europe.”
Meloni campaigned for Ukraine’s admission to the EU because the country was also fighting for the rest of Europe – “for all of us,” as she said. Zelenskyy thanked Italy for the help, both bilaterally and as part of the international community. His country wants peace and has proposed a plan. “But Russia responded with missiles. Russia has no interest in peace.” Russia abducted 200,000 children from Ukrainian areas, he said. He invited politicians from Italy to visit Ukraine to see for themselves what Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is doing with his war of aggression.
After the meetings with the heads of state of Italy, Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis in the Vatican. The meeting was a “great honor,” he told the head of the Catholic Church. The two exchanged gifts and retired for a private chat. As the Holy See later announced, the focus of their meeting was the humanitarian and political situation in Ukraine. The pontiff stressed “the urgent need for human gestures towards the innocent victims of the conflict” as well as his “constant appeal to the Lord for peace”.
Selenskyj travels on to Germany
Zelenskyj also asked Pope Francis in a personal conversation to condemn Russia’s crimes in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The politician reported this on Twitter after an audience with the head of the Catholic Church. “Victims and aggressors cannot be equated,” added Zelenskyj. Francis has repeatedly drawn ire from Ukrainians in the months since the Russian attack for trying to avoid directly addressing and criticizing warring factions. This is the only way to be a neutral mediator for peace, he said.
During a subsequent talk show on Italian television, Selenskyj emphasized again that meeting the pontiff was an honor for him. Asked about a peace plan, Zelenskyy said: “But he knows my position – the war is in Ukraine and the plan has to be Ukrainian.” However, one is very interested in including the Vatican in a peace formula. Zelenskyj also insisted on bringing Ukrainian children who were abducted to Russia back to Ukraine.
Selenskyj travels from Italy to Germany, as confirmed by government circles. It was initially unclear whether Selenskyj would arrive on Saturday evening or only on Sunday.