Italy’s government wants to be a “guarantor” of peace” in the 10-month-old conflict between Russia and Ukraine, premier Giorgia Meloni stated on Thursday, noting that she plans to visit Kiev “before the end of February”.
”I believe I will go to Kiev before the end of Feburary,” Meloni told reporters in Rome at the prime minister’s traditional year-end press conference.
“I support every action aimed at bringing peace, which won’t be obtained through mere words,” Meloni said, arguing that talks can only go ahead if Russian and Ukrainian forces are “balanced”.
“Peace needs to be worked on in a concrete way, obtaining positive signs from both sides, which right now are not there, especially from Russia,” Meloni underlined.
Meloni said she was pleased Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenky, whom she spoke to by phone on Wednesday, wants to begin dialogue with Russia.
“I am happy to have learned from Zelensky that he wants to start dialogue. I told him Italy is read to be a guarantor of this process,” Meloni said.
During her “cordial” phone talks with Zelensky, Meloni reaffirmed “the Italian government’s full support” to Ukraine in the political, military, economic and humanitarian spheres and its wish to help rebuild energy infrastructure and reconstruct the war-ravaged country, Meloni’s office stated on Wednesday.
Italy remains fully committed to “every useful action towards a just peace for the Ukrainian nation”, the statement said.
Meloni confirmed to Zelensky her plan to visit Kiev and invited him to Rome, according to the statement.
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