He invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. And then with Giorgia Meloni he "shared the next steps to be taken to achieve a just and lasting peace," as is emphasized in a passage from the Palazzo Chigi statement at the end of the meeting, with which the Kiev leader concluded a round of discussions that also took him to London and Brussels at one of the most delicate moments of the negotiations.
These are also turbulent times, especially given Donald Trump's warning about the need to "call elections" in his country. Zelensky responded by guaranteeing that he was "always ready," as he told reporters from several newspapers leaving his hotel in the capital. He then spent an hour and a half at Palazzo Chigi, discussing the new version of the peace plan and the prospects for negotiations with the Prime Minister (the EU leader closest to the American president), whom he assured he "trusted."
During a face-to-face meeting, Meloni assured her guest of Italy's support: "Italy will continue to do its part, also with a view to the future reconstruction of Ukraine." Palazzo Chigi emphasized the two leaders' shared understanding on various issues, starting with the "importance of unity of vision between European and American partners." In her reasoning, the prime minister began with the conviction that Trump is, ultimately, a pragmatic leader.
Consequently, the discussions being conducted at the government's top levels suggest that the next steps must be approached realistically, knowing that a rift with Washington would be in neither Kiev's nor the EU's interests. Thus, among the firm and shared points between Meloni and Zelensky, Palazzo Chigi lists "Europe's contribution to solutions that will have repercussions on the continent's security," "the establishment of robust security guarantees that will prevent future aggression," and "maintaining pressure on Russia to sit at the negotiating table in good faith."
There's no mention of the disputed territories, either in the Palazzo Chigi statement or in the tweet in which Zelensky (also in Rome, accompanied by chief negotiator Rustem Umerov) explained that he had "an excellent and very in-depth discussion with Meloni on all aspects of the diplomatic situation. We appreciate Italy's active role in generating concrete ideas and defining measures to bring peace closer."
The Kiev delegation, however, also puts on the table the "urgent decisions" it deems essential to continue gaining support and putting pressure on Moscow. "It is important," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha clarified in a speech to his counterpart Antonio Tajani, "to finally allow the full use of frozen Russian assets, to strengthen Ukraine under the Safe program, and to further increase contributions to the PURL initiative."
Rome is cautious regarding assets, given the legal issues that, for example, have already forced French banks to withdraw from the game. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the PURL (the mechanism for purchasing American weapons to be passed to Kiev). Meloni and Tajani, however, have recently assured that the Council of Ministers will approve the decree for a one-year extension of the authorization for arms shipments, a measure that the League is not happy with. "I," Matteo Salvini warned, "will not take money away from the Italian healthcare system to wage a losing war." Meanwhile, Meloni and Tajani have finalized an emergency energy supply package, for which Zelensky expressed gratitude.
(Unioneonline)