Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy is set to meet with Pope Francis and Italian leaders on Saturday during his trip to Rome, the Vatican confirmed. Zelenskyy will hold meetings with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, though his exact schedule was not publicly announced due to security concerns.
Italian state television reported that a no-fly zone was ordered for Rome skies and police sharpshooters were placed on high buildings as part of protective measures. This visit comes as the German government announced that it would provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth more than €2.7 billion ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems, and ammunition.
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Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin wants to show with the latest package of arms “that Germany is serious in its support” for Ukraine.This visit also follows Meloni's meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, shortly before the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Pope Francis, who is eager for peace, last met with the Ukrainian leader in 2020. The pontiff makes frequent impassioned pleas on behalf of Ukraine's “martyred" people. At the end of April, Francis told reporters that the Vatican was involved in a behind-the-scenes peace mission, though neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed such an initiative.
(With AP Inputs)
