Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on
Thursday flew from Rome to Kyiv where he will see Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba,
diplomatic sources said.
Di Maio told RaiNews that Italy had chosen to be on the side of
the Ukrainian people in the war against the Russian invasion,
which has just passed its six-month mark.
"We have chosen to be on the side of the Ukrainian people," said
the leader of the centrist Civic Commitment (IC) party.
"In defending Europe we can only encourage them to continue and
we express condolences to the government and the people for the
umpteenth attack on civilians at the station of Dnipro, with 25
dead including a child."
Duing his visit Di Maio visited Irpin, not far from Kyiv, one of
the towns and villages where alleged evidence was found of
alleged Russian war crimes.
The foreign minister said on his arrival there "we must hope
that nothing changes (in Italy after the September 25 general
election the centre right is poised to win), that they continue
to support with all possible forces this country because Ukraine
is the frontier of Europe, it is not defending only itself.
"Here in Iprin there is a destroyed city, razed to the ground,
and in Italy there are those who still deny the acts that
happened on the part of Russian troops, doing Putin's work."
Di Maio said that the Ukrainians were "also defending our
freedom".
"We could not fail to help and support this people, and supply
it with all the aid possible to defend itself from the invader.
The Ukrainians are not only defending themselves but they are
defending the freedom of all of Europe and we must choose what
side to be on.
"As Italian government , we have chosen to be on the side of the
Ukrainian people. In defending Europe, we can only encourage
them to continue.
"On our side we will continue to give the maximum sympathies to
the Ukrainian people and to the Ukrainian government. WE will do
so with visits but we must also do so with deeds: we were one of
the countries that has given the most aid to the Ukrainian
resistance, we have given important financial and humanitarian
aid and we must do so even more."
Russian aggression on Ukraine has been "brutal" and Kyiv's
resistance to the invasion is legitimate, President Sergio
Mattarella said in a message to President Zelensky on its
national day of independence on Wednesday.
"The need for an immediate cessation of hostilities for the
start of a negotiating process in view of a peaceful, just, fair
and sustainable solution for Ukraine must be affirmed yet
again," said the Italian head of state.
"I wish to renew, at this dramatic moment, the most convinced
expression of solidarity, closeness and support by the Italian
Republic for Ukraine, which is facing the brutal and unjustified
aggression by the Russian Federation, against which it is
legitimately resisting".
Mattarella went on: "Italy firmly supports the territorial
integrity, independence and freedom of your country, and
reaffirms its commitment to assist the Ukrainian people also in
the humanitarian and reconstruction fields.
"I hope that the already intense relations between Kyiv and Rome
may find further impetus in all sectors of mutual interest,
thanks to the contribution of a Ukrainian community in Italy
which is integrated and active.
"With feelings of sincere friendship, I renew fervent hopes for
peace, security and well-being for your person and for all the
Ukrainian people".
Mattarella also said Italy backed Kyiv's ambitions to join the
European Union.
"Ukraine's path towards a full integration in the European
family represents the reinforcement of a framework of
fundamental significance," he said.
"Italy will continue to contribute to this process, supporting
efforts towards the achievement of this objective".
The Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday in
modern Ukraine, celebrated on 24 August in commemoration of the
Declaration of Independence of 1991.
Outgoing Premier Mario Draghi said on Ukraine Wednesday that a
nuclear disaster must be averted, referring to fighting at the
Zaporizhzhia power plant and echoing Pope Francis at his general
audience earlier in the day.
As well as defending Ukraine, Draghi said "we must be ready to
seek a lasting and sustainable peace".
He said there was no contradiction between seeking peace and
imposing "effective sanctions on Russia".
Pope Francis on Wednesday called for "concrete steps to end the
war (in Ukraine) and avert a nuclear disaster at Zaporizhzhia".
Speaking at his general audience, Francis said "I renew my
invitation to implore the Lord for peace for the beloved
Ukrainian people which for six months, today, has suffered the
horror of war".
Fresh Russian shelling hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on
Wednesday. The bombs hit infrastructure there.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its mission
to the plant in Ukraine was "imminent".
Zelensky told the UN Security Council that Russia "must cease
its nuclear blackmail".
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