Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has traveled to Italy for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There is a heavy police presence there and strict security measures are in place.
More than 1,000 police officers are on duty in the Eternal City to protect the Ukrainian president. He arrived at Ciampino Airport in Rome on Saturday and was received by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Zelenskyj will meet with Pope Francis, Italian Head of State Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. “An important visit for Ukraine’s victory,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram after arriving in Rome.
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The head of state of the war-torn country is first expected by Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. During lunch, he will go to the government seat, Palazzo Chigi, to meet Meloni and Tajani, Italian media reported. At around 4 p.m. he is received in an audience by the pope and at 6.30 p.m. he is interviewed by star journalist Bruno Vespa for the RAI 1 channel.
Citing Vatican sources, Russia’s TASS news agency pointed out that the meeting between the Ukrainian president and the pope “is not directly related to the (peace) mission” announced by Francis on his flight back from Hungary in late April.
Meeting with Pope
Vatican circles reported that Selenskyj had only requested a reception with Francis a few days ago. The pope is used to meeting heads of state who request it during their visits to the Italian capital. The fact that the meeting was organized at very short notice is also evidenced by the absence of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
He had traveled to the Portuguese pilgrimage site of Fatima to attend the celebration of the 106th anniversary of the Marian apparitions. Instead, Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Foreign Relations, who was on a trip to Ukraine a year ago, will attend.
A visit to Germany is also possible
Since the beginning of Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine, the pope has been campaigning for a peaceful solution to the conflict. It was also unclear whether Selenskyj would continue to Germany after the agreements in Rome. In Berlin, people have been preparing for Zelenskyj’s visit for some time – but this was only confirmed on Friday. On Sunday, the Ukrainian president will receive the famous Charlemagne Prize in Aachen. It was unclear whether he himself would accept it.
Meloni supports arms shipments
Right-wing politician Meloni already supported arms shipments to Ukraine before she won elections in September last year. On the other hand, her two coalition partners – Matteo Salvini of the right-wing Lega and Silvio Berlusconi of the conservative Forza Italia – have repeatedly made pro-Russian statements. Meloni met Selenskyj in Kiev in February and secured further support for Ukraine.
Source: Krone
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