Meloni arrives in Kyiv, set to meet Zelensky

(ANSA) - KYIV, FEB 21 - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday for her first-visit to war-torn Ukraine, just days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
    She will also visit Bucha and Irpin, two cities of huge symbolic importance for the Ukrainian resistance where hundreds of civilians were killed, and have talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the afternoon.
    Meloni, who was sworn in as Italy's first woman premier last October, has continued the policy of her predecessor, ex-premier Mario Draghi, of staunchly supporting Kyiv and sending military aid .
    She is expected to stress to Zelensky that Italy's support for Kyiv will be unwavering as long as she is in charge.
    Her visit comes after furore over comments critical of Zelensky by ex-premier and Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi, one of her alliance partners.
    Another, Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, has expressed reservations in the past about the policy of sending military aid to Ukraine.
    League leader Salvini, who used to be an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has criticised Moscow's invasion of its neighbour. (ANSA).