Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky arrived in Rome on Saturday and will meet with Pope Francis and Italian leaders, the Vatican announced.
Zelensky will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been providing military aid to Ukraine, and President Sergio Mattarella.
The Ukrainian president also announced on Twitter that he is already in Rome.
Today in Rome. I meet with the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister of Italy @GiorgiaMeloni and Pope @Pontiff. An important visit for the next victory of Ukraine!
– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 13, 2023
Zelensky’s exact schedule was not released for security reasons. The Vatican has just confirmed a papal meeting shortly before the arrival of the Ukrainian president in Rome.
Italian state television reported that as part of the security measures, a no-fly zone was opened in the Italian skies and police snipers were strategically placed on tall buildings.
Meloni met Zelensky in kyiv just before the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
Francis, who has been calling for peace, last met the Ukrainian leader in 2020.
The pontiff often mentions the “martyred” people of Ukraine, according to his words.
In late April, returning to Rome from a trip to Hungary, Francis told reporters that the Vatican was involved in a peace mission, but gave no details.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed any initiative.
Source: TSF
