Italy’s PM Meloni arrives in Kyiv to meet Zelensky

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday around noon by a train that left at night from the Polish Przemyśl railway station.

La Repubblica reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky is waiting for the head of the Italian government in the afternoon. They will hold a press conference together for further statements.

Before that, Meloni will visit Bucha and Irpin, war-torn cities in the Kyiv region that became the first locations where law enforcement and journalists discovered evidence of russia's war crimes (execution-style murders, rape, torture rooms, mass burial sites) committed during the russian occupation in March 2022. Italian PM will come to the cities to see for herself the consequences of the russian invasion.

The prime minister arrived in Poland on Monday, February 20, and met with the Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki and President Andrzej Duda.

During a press conference in Warsaw, Meloni emphasized that Italy and Poland have a strong connection and are "the only two countries that mention each other in their national anthem."

With the head of the Polish government, she discussed migration, economic development, and support for Ukraine.

"We talked about the future supply of weapons to Ukraine to ensure peace and stability," the Polish prime minister told reporters. At the same time, the head of the Italian government confirmed "comprehensive" support for Ukraine.

Earlier, the mass media reported that Meloni would use her visit to testify to Italy's support for Ukraine and announce the sixth military aid package, approved by the Italian government, and the joint transfer of the SAMP/T  anti-missile complex, which should be ready in the spring, with France.

The contents of the aid package are not disclosed, but, as the Italian media wrote, Italy will not transfer tanks to Ukraine because it does not have enough of them. The dispatch of F-16 fighter jets will also not be discussed.