President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella.
The Head of State thanked the President of Italy for his unwavering, principled stance in support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
Sergio Mattarella assured that his country’s position remains unchanged and that support for Ukraine will continue.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed particular gratitude for the assistance to Ukraine’s energy sector during this difficult winter. The Presidents discussed further support necessary for Ukraine’s energy resilience.
The leaders also addressed the security situation in Ukraine and around the globe, including in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that a ceasefire in the region is an important signal of de-escalation and opens opportunities for diplomatic solutions. Ukraine has long emphasized that the same approach should be applied to ending Russian aggression.
The President spoke about Ukraine’s agreements with countries of the region on security cooperation and stressed the importance of building a joint protection system in Europe as well. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed about the agreement with the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, to work through the details of the Drone Deal between the two countries.
Particular attention was given to strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. The President outlined the need for additional systems and missiles.
“Almost every day, Russia strikes our cities and communities, our energy facilities, and residential buildings with missiles and drones. Under these conditions, air defense is our absolute priority,” emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The parties also discussed unblocking the decision on the €90 billion financial package for Ukraine, the twentieth sanctions package against Russia, and negotiation clusters on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
