Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is on her way to kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian media reported on Tuesday (February 21st).
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The Italian leader took an overnight train from Poland to kyiv, where she is expected in the morning, Sky TV channel TG24 reported.
A symbol of Italian support
Monday evening, Giorgia Meloni spoke by telephone with US President Joe Biden, who had just returned to Poland after a surprise visit to kyiv, the Italian government said.
“
The two leaders discussed their ongoing close coordination on support for Ukraine, including assistance on security, economic and humanitarian issues
,” Palace Chigi said in a statement.
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Giorgia Meloni, herself present Monday February 20 in Poland, had promised that she would go to Ukraine before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24.
“
We have provided financial, military, humanitarian and civilian support
to Kiev
,” she recalled Monday evening during a press briefing in Warsaw.
Obviously, Ukraine can count on Italy because as we have shown from the beginning (…) we have been there and we will continue to be
”.
In the footsteps of Mario Draghi
Giorgia Meloni's services announced Monday evening the shipment to Ukraine of electrical equipment (transformers, generators, cables and accessories) for a value of "
several million euros
" and which will ensure the supply of electricity to the equivalent of three million people.
On the military level, Italy must deliver the MAMBA medium-range surface-to-air defense system to kyiv in the spring, in collaboration with France.
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Since taking office in October, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia party, has reiterated her country's support for kyiv.
In her first speech to Parliament, she had promised to "
continue to be a reliable partner of NATO in supporting Ukraine
", in line with her predecessor Mario Draghi.
Mario Draghi, Zelensky's supporter, traveled to kyiv in June with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Meloni–Berlusconi tensions
Giorgia Meloni must, however, manage the presence in her coalition of pro-Russian partners, in particular the head of the League Matteo Salvini and the leader of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi, a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On February 12, Silvio Berlusconi launched an all-out attack against Volodymyr Zelensky, immediately attracting the wrath of the Prime Minister.
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Asked about a meeting three days earlier in Brussels between Giorgia Meloni and Volodymyr Zelensky, he replied: "
If I had been President of the Council, I would never have gone there
", ensuring that he judged the behavior of the Ukrainian president “
very negatively
”.
The executive had immediately responded by reassuring the "
firm and convinced support
" of the Italian government to Ukraine.