Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to condemn former Italian President Silvio Berlusconi, who accused Ukraine of starting the war in the Donbass region.
“Berlusconi’s house was never bombed, tanks never entered his yard, nobody killed his relatives, he never had to pack his bags at 3 a.m. and all thanks to Russia’s brotherly love,” the Ukrainian president said. daily newspaper. ‘La Repubblica’, quoted by the Europa Press news agency.
Berlusconi, one of the main allies of the Meloni government, has become notorious in recent weeks for successive statements not only blaming Ukraine for the outbreak of war, but also acknowledging his good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Prime Minister Meloni traveled to Ukraine today to “reiterate the position of the Italian government” and its support for the Ukrainian people. As part of this visit, Meloni traveled to the town of Irpin, where he saw firsthand the destruction wrought by Russian armed offensives.
Later, President Zelensky repeated Berlusconi’s statements and expressed his wish for “peace for all Italian families”, even those who do not sympathize with Ukraine in the conflict, although he underlined that the Ukrainian “tragedy” is something “to be understood “.
“I want them to come here and see for themselves the trail of blood that was left behind,” Zelensky said.
Like the vast majority of international leaders who have visited Ukraine since the start of the war, Meloni took the opportunity to announce support for the Eastern European country.
At the time, the Italian leader said Rome was “working” on a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in April.
“I believe that Italy can play a leading role with its strategic excellence,” said the head of government, who also assured that in a few years the reconstruction of Ukraine will be called “a miracle”.
“In Italy, the post-war period was a period of growth and development, so much so that there was an Italian miracle, and I am sure that in a few years we can speak of a Ukrainian miracle,” he underlined.
Despite providing economic support to Ukraine, Meloni refused to comply with Zelensky’s recent requests regarding arms, assuring that delivery of fighter jets to the Ukrainian armed forces “is not currently on the table”.
Zelensky, for his part, expressed his gratitude for Rome’s latest air defense systems.
Meloni also said he was in favor of giving Ukraine the right to decide on hypothetical peace talks, stressing that “it is essential that the initiative comes from President Zelensky”.
He further said that “the invasion of sovereign states”, as well as the “forced redefinition” of borders, are things that the international community cannot accept.
Source: DN
