ROME (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymur Zelensky arrived in Rome to meet with Italian officials and Pope Francis. Pope Francis said the Vatican had launched a behind-the-scenes effort to end the war started by Russia last year.
State broadcaster RAI reported that Mr Serenchiky had arrived at a military airfield at Rome Ciampino airport. According to the ANSA news agency, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tagjani visited to say hello.
“Today is Rome,” Zelensky tweeted. “Meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni and Pope @Pontifex. An important visit given the upcoming Ukrainian victory! ”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is a strong supporter of military and other aid to Ukraine and head of state Mattarella. The meeting with Mr. Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace is the first official engagement of his visit to the Italian capital and is expected to last several hours. Mr Zelensky is expected to visit Berlin next.
Zelensky’s exact schedule was not made public for security reasons, with the Vatican only confirming that the papal meeting took place just before the Ukrainian president’s plane landed.
Italian state radio reported that a no-fly zone had been created over Rome as part of protective measures, with police snipers strategically placed on skyscrapers. Meloni met with Zelensky in Kiev just before the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022.
The peace-seeking Mr. Francisco last met with a Ukrainian leader in 2020.
In his opinion, the Pope continues to make impassioned appeals on behalf of the “martyrs” of Ukraine.
When Francis returned to Rome from a trip to Hungary in late April, he told reporters on board the plane that the Vatican was involved in a covert peacekeeping operation, without elaborating. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such efforts.
Zelensky’s exact schedule was not made public for security reasons, with the Vatican only confirming that the papal meeting took place just before the Ukrainian president’s plane landed.
Italian state radio reported that a no-fly zone had been created over Rome as part of protective measures, with police snipers strategically placed on skyscrapers.
Meloni met with Zelensky in Kiev just before the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022.
The peace-seeking Mr. Francisco last met with a Ukrainian leader in 2020. In his opinion, the Pope continues to make impassioned appeals on behalf of the “martyrs” of Ukraine.
Francis told reporters on a plane returning to Rome from a trip to Hungary in late April that the Vatican was involved in a covert peacekeeping operation, without elaborating. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such efforts.
Germany, meanwhile, said it was providing Ukraine with more than €2.7 billion ($3 billion) in additional military aid, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.
The announcement came on Saturday as preparations were underway in Berlin for President Zelensky’s first possible visit to Germany since Russia invaded Germany last year. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin wanted to use the latest weapons package to show “Germany is serious about helping Ukraine”.
“Germany will provide all the help it needs,” he said.
