Kyiv, February 21 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said during his visit to Kyiv today that Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion of its territory reminded him of the “birth of the Italian state”, since Italy has also been denied its existence as a nation as Russia is currently doing with Ukraine.
“The heroic reaction of a people ready to do anything to defend their freedom, sovereignty and identity reminded me of the birth of the Italian state,” Meloni said during his joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodimir. Zelensky.
Meloni recalled that “there was a time when it was said that Italy did not exist as a nation” and was “just a geographical expression”. “With the capacity you had to fight, to resist, you showed that you were an extraordinary nation”, underlined the head of the Italian government.
The Prime Minister also announced that her government was working on the organization, for the month of April, of a conference in Italy for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Meloni insisted on claiming Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression, and said any chance for peace depended on Russian President Vladimir Putin ending the invasion.
For his part, President Zelensky thanked Meloni for his “leadership” in providing air defense systems to Ukraine “that will allow us to protect our lives”.
Asked about recent remarks by former Italian prime minister and current Meloni partner Silvio Berlusconi who blamed the Ukrainian president for the war, Zelenski said: “Berlusconi’s house was never bombed.
“Thank God no tank entered his house or attacked his relatives, he never woke up without electricity…” Zelensky said of the Italian politician, who called military aid to stop him being sent to Ukraine.
Zelensky also condemned the Russian attacks on the southern province of Jerson which left six civilians dead today.