Zelenskyy Heads To Rome To Meet With Pope Francis, Italian Leaders

ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday for talks with Italian officers and Pope Francis, who has stated the Vatican has launched a behind-the-scenes initiative to attempt to finish the warfare launched final yr by Russia.

“In the present day in Rome,″ Zelenskyy tweeted. ”I’m assembly with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister of Italy @GiorgiaMeloni and the Pope @Pontifex. An necessary go to for approaching victory of Ukraine! ”

When Zelenskyy arrived at a navy airfield at Rome’s Ciampino airport, Italian Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani was readily available to greet him. Tajani advised reporters that Italy will proceed to help Ukraine “360 levels” and press for a simply peace, one which safeguards Ukraine’s independence.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni staunchly backs navy and different assist for Ukraine.

However whereas her far-right Brothers of Italy celebration fiercely champions the precept of nationwide sovereignty, Meloni has needed to deal with leaders of two coalition companions who’ve brazenly professed for years their admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Coalition ally Silvio Berlusconi, a former premier, has boasted of his friendship with Putin, whereas one other authorities ally, League chief Matteo Salvini, has questioned the worth of financial sanctions in opposition to Russia.

Zelenskyy started his official conferences by calling on Mattarella, who’s head of state, on the presidential Quirinale Palace. Rain let up simply in time about midday for the 2 to view an honor guard within the palace courtyard atop the Quirinal Hill, and Zelenskyy stood along with his hand over his coronary heart as an Italian navy band performed Ukraine’s anthem.

En route, Zelenskyy’s motorcade handed by cheering Ukrainians who had waited within the rain to welcome him throughout his go to to the Italian capital, anticipated to final a number of hours. Close to the presidential palace was Mariya Hrytskevych, a Ukrainian citizen residing in Italy, who famous that Zelenskyy is “touring rather a lot for our good — to battle and to seek out extra assist, as a result of we want assist.”

Zelenskyy is believed to be heading to Berlin subsequent.

Zelenskyy’s precise schedule hadn’t been publicly introduced due to safety issues, and the Vatican solely confirmed a papal assembly shortly earlier than the Ukrainian president’s airplane touched down.

Italian state radio reported that as a part of protecting measures, a no-fly zone was ordered for Rome skies and police sharpshooters have been strategically positioned on excessive buildings.

Meloni met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, shortly earlier than the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

Francis, who is raring for peace, final met with the Ukrainian chief in 2020.

The pontiff makes frequent impassioned pleas on behalf of Ukraine’s “martyred” folks, in his phrases.

On the finish of April, flying again to Rome from a visit to Hungary, Francis advised reporters on the airplane that the Vatican was concerned in a behind-the-scene peace mission however gave no particulars. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such an initiative.

He has stated he want to go to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, if such a go to could possibly be coupled with one to Moscow, in hopes a papal pilgrimage may additional the reason for peace.

Final month, Ukraine’s prime minister met with Francis on the Vatican and stated he requested the pontiff to assist Ukraine get again youngsters illegally taken to Russia in the course of the invasion.

The German authorities, in the meantime, stated it was offering Ukraine with further navy assist value greater than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), together with tanks, anti-aircraft techniques and ammunition.

The announcement Saturday got here as preparations have been underway in Berlin for a doable first go to to Germany by Zelenskyy since Russia invaded his nation final yr.

Protection Minister Boris Pistorius stated Berlin needs to point out with the most recent bundle of arms “that Germany is severe in its help” for Ukraine.

“Germany will present all the assistance it may, so long as it takes,” he stated.

— A “huge” Russian barrage in a single day broken an vitality facility in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi area, the Ukrainian vitality ministry stated Saturday morning. It added that energy provide within the area wasn’t affected. The mayor of the regional capital stated that 11 civilians have been wounded or injured in a single day on account of a Russian missile strike, He added that “a whole lot” of residential buildings within the metropolis have been additionally broken within the strike.

— Russian forces on Friday and in a single day resumed their shelling of Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, killing a civilian, native Gov. Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram on Saturday. 4 civilians have been killed over the identical interval in Ukraine’s front-line Donetsk province within the east, its Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko stated Saturday.

— Russian forces in a single day launched a minimum of 21 Iranian-made Shahed drones at Ukrainian territory, 17 of which have been shot down, Ukraine’s air drive stated Saturday. One of many drones hit unspecified “infrastructure amenities” within the western Khmelnytskyi area, the replace stated in a possible reference to the vitality facility within the province that was broken within the nightly strike, in line with Ukraine’s vitality ministry.

— Russian shelling in a single day wounded three civilians within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Mykolaiv, the mayor stated Saturday. One individual was hospitalized, whereas the 2 others have been handled on the spot. A number of fires have been reported throughout the metropolis.

Frank Jordans in Berlin, Joanna Kozlowska in London, and Gianfranco Stara in Rome, contributed to this report.

Comply with the AP’s protection of the warfare at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine