After attending the funeral of Pope Francis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a significant diplomatic meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi. The discussions between the two leaders spanned nearly an hour, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical context.
During the meeting, both leaders reiterated their support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiatives aimed at achieving a sustainable peace in Ukraine, one that ensures the nation’s security, sovereignty, and freedom. Meloni conveyed her condolences for the recent victims of Russian military actions, condemning such attacks and emphasizing the urgent need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. She underscored the necessity for Moscow to commit to initiating a peace process.
The Italian Prime Minister acknowledged Ukraine’s willingness to engage in a ceasefire, expressing hope that Russia would also demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace efforts.
Prior to the meeting with Meloni, Zelensky held private discussions at St. Peter’s Basilica with several world leaders, including U.S. President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. These talks highlighted the international dimension of the efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Meloni remarked on the symbolic significance of Trump’s and Zelensky’s conversations about peace during the funeral of the “Pope of Peace,” describing the event as historic. Additionally, Zelensky and Starmer conducted a bilateral meeting at Villa Wolkonsky, and a session with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also on Zelensky’s agenda.
