Arrived yesterday in the Ukrainian capital by train together with the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium (current President of the EU Council) and Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met the Ukrainian president in person Volodymyr Zelensky. During the video conference organized remotely with the other representatives of the countries of G7, Meloni announced: “We met today to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine and pay tribute once again to the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people who have fought tirelessly for their country's freedom and democratic future.”
“We signed a bilateral agreement of security cooperation between Ukraine and Italy,” Zelensky added. The agreement provides for "immediate and strengthened collaboration" by Italy over a period of time equal to ten years and with a 24-hour emergency response mechanism (in case of a new attack on Ukraine). Also guaranteed cooperation in the defense and industrial sectors aids economic: from critical and energy infrastructures to humanitarian support, passing through exchanges on cybersecurity and intelligence and reconstruction. Italy has already guaranteed funding for the reconstruction of the roof of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa, damaged by the Russian bombings on 23 July.
Yesterday (February 24, 2024) was the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has caused the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the end of the Second World War. 730 days have passed since that first battle – Meloni pointed out – and for 730 days the Ukrainian people have been reminding us what it means to believe in their freedom and their nation.
