Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is on a visit to Rome, where he is engaging with political leaders before his audience with Pope Francis. Upon landing in the Italian capital, Zelensky tweeted, “An important visit for approaching victory of Ukraine!”
During his visit, Zelensky met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. Later, he was scheduled to head to the Vatican for his meeting with Pope Francis.
Security measures were heightened for the visit, with over 1,000 police officers deployed and a no-fly zone implemented over Rome.
Zelensky held a private meeting with President Mattarella, followed by a working lunch with PM Meloni. Italy has historically had strong ties with Moscow, with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi being a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister, has also expressed pro-Russian sentiments. However, Zelensky was not expected to meet either Salvini or Berlusconi during his visit.
During a news conference with Meloni, President Zelensky invited all Italian political leaders and representatives of civil society to visit Ukraine. He emphasized that such a visit would help them understand the impact of Russian aggression and why Ukraine is fighting against it.
Zelensky then proceeded to the Vatican, where he was scheduled to meet Pope Francis. The Pope has expressed willingness for the Vatican to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and he recently mentioned that the Vatican was working on a peace plan to end the war.
The relationship between Ukraine and the Vatican has occasionally been strained. In August of the previous year, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican criticized the Pope after he referred to Darya Dugina, the daughter of a Russian ultra-nationalist figure killed by a car bomb, as an “innocent” victim of war.
This visit marks the first meeting between President Zelensky and Pope Francis since Russia invaded Ukraine, although the two did meet in 2020.
In other developments, the German government announced its largest military aid package for Ukraine to date, amounting to €2.7 billion (£2.4 billion). An adviser to President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, commented that this aid signified Russia’s inevitable defeat and placement on the “bench of historical shame.” Reports have also emerged that Zelensky plans to visit Germany following his trip to Italy, although this has yet to be confirmed.
