2023-05-13 12:03:48
the ukrainian president Volodimir Zelensky arrived in Rome today to meet with Pope Francis, the president of italy Sergio Mattarella and the premiere Giorgia Meloniin what he defined as an “important visit” for the “victory” of his country in the war once morest Russia.
Zelensky began his round of meetings with a meeting of regarding half an hour with Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, where he was received with military honors and the Ukrainian flag was raised while hymns were played. “Welcome President, Italy is completely by your side,” Mattarella told him upon receiving him.
“Rome. Meetings with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis. An important visit to get closer to the victory of Ukraine“, Zelenski raised upon arrival at the Ciampino airport in the Italian capital.
According to Vatican sources, the Ukrainian president will see the Pope in the local followingnoon in a room in the Paul VI Hall, in a context of reserved negotiations of the Holy See to achieve a rapprochement between Ukraine and Russiaand following the public announcement of the pontiff that the Vatican will mediate to obtain the restitution of thousands of children that kyiv denounces were deported from the country.
Since the beginning of the war, the Pope and the president they talked on the phone at least twice, as revealed by Francisco in dialogue with journalists. Zelensky already visited the Pope in 2020.
For now, instead, Francis did not speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he showed his willingness to contact the president and hinted at the Kremlin leader’s rejection of a meeting. Last Thursday, Francis received the Russian ambassador to the Holy See, Alexander Avdeev, for the traditional farewell visit.
Weeks ago, Francis received Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in the first high-level bilateral between the two countries since the start of the Russian invasion.
For now, Francis has not been to kyiv since the start of the warsince it seeks to be able to make a joint visit to Moscow, while the Italian premier Meloni visited the Ukrainian capital in February.
Two weeks ago, the premier also received Shmyhal to launch a forum with which he seeks to involve Italian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine following the war.
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