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Zelensky meets with Italian President before his audience with the Pope.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Rome on Saturday for meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, officials and Pope Francis, receiving assurances from Italian leaders to continue military and other aid as his country struggles to free itself from Russia’s military invasion that began last year.

Francis said recently that the Vatican launched a behind-the-scenes initiative to try to end the war that Russia unleashed last year.

In a tweet sent shortly after his arrival in the Italian capital late Saturday morning, Zelensky cited his schedule of meetings with Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “An important visit for the approaching victory of Ukraine!” Zelensky tweeted.

When Zelensky arrived at a military airfield at Rome’s Ciampino Airport, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was on hand to greet him. Tajani told reporters that Italy will continue to support Ukraine “360 degrees” and press for a just peace that preserves Ukraine’s independence.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly supports military and other assistance to Ukraine.

But while her far-right party, the Brotherhood of Italy, staunchly supports the principle of national sovereignty, Meloni has had to contend with the leaders of two coalition partners who for years have publicly expressed their admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alliance ally Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister, boasted of his friendship with Putin, while another ally in the government, League leader Matteo Salvini, questioned the value of economic sanctions against Russia.

Zelensky began his official meetings by inviting Mattarella at the Quirinale presidential palace.

“We are absolutely on your side,” Mattarella told Zelensky, welcoming him. Later, after their meeting, sources in the presidential palace said that Mattarella assured his guest that Italy would continue to support Ukraine militarily and financially, as well as reconstruction and humanitarian aid, in the short and long term.

Since the war began, Italy has provided about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in military and financial aid, as well as humanitarian aid.

At his next stop, Meloni and Zelensky embraced the prime minister’s office in the palace courtyard, before beginning their closed-door talks.

He thinks Zelensky will head to Berlin next. Zelensky’s exact schedule has not been publicly announced due to security concerns, and the Vatican confirmed that a papal conclave took place only shortly before the Ukrainian president’s plane touched down.

Italian state radio reported that as part of the preventive measures, a no-fly zone was issued in the skies over Rome and police snipers were strategically placed on tall buildings.

Meloni met Zelensky in Kiev, shortly before the anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion on February 24, 2022.

Francis, who longs for peace, last met the Ukrainian leader in 2020.

The Pope makes repeated impassioned appeals on behalf of the “martyrs” of Ukraine, he says.

At the end of April, while returning to Rome from a trip to Hungary, Francis told reporters on the plane that the Vatican was involved in a behind-the-scenes peace mission but gave no details. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such an initiative.

He said he would like to go to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, if combined with a visit to Moscow, in the hope that the papal pilgrimage would further the cause of peace.

Last month, the Ukrainian prime minister met Francis in the Vatican and said he had asked the pope to help Ukraine return children illegally taken to Russia during the invasion.

Meanwhile, the German government said it was providing Ukraine with more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) in additional military aid, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

The announcement on Saturday came as preparations were underway in Berlin for Zelensky’s possible first visit to Germany since Russia invaded his country last year.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin wanted to show with the latest arms package that “Germany is serious about its support” for Ukraine.

“Germany will provide all the help it can, as long as it needs it,” he said.

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