Italy is ‘fully committed’ to Ukraine support, Meloni tells NATO chief

Italy’s new prime minister pledged the nation’s “sturdy dedication” to NATO and efforts to finish Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Giorgia Meloni took a agency pro-alliance stance on Thursday after members of her ruling coalition expressed pro-Russian sentiments.

“Given our principal problem at the moment, Italy strongly helps the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and freedom of Ukraine,” Meloni stated with NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg at her aspect. 

“The political cohesion of the alliance and our full dedication to supporting the Ukrainian trigger are, from our perspective, the most effective response that NATO allies may give.”

The 2 officers who met at her workplace, with Meloni stating that the easiest way to defend European safety was to stay united.

Stoltenberg, for his half, thanked Meloni for Italy’s commitments up to now, which he stated amounted to “tons of of hundreds of thousands of euros” in humanitarian and monetary help for Ukraine and heading up NATO’s battle group in Bulgaria, amongst different alliance management roles.

Meloni, who heads Italy’s first far-right-led authorities for the reason that finish of World Conflict II, has strongly backed Ukraine within the warfare. 

Her two principal coalition allies, former Premier Silvio Berlusconi and League chief Matteo Salvini, have equivocated; in addition they have previous ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Within the days earlier than Meloni acquired a mandate to type a authorities, Berlusconi boasted that he had reconnected with Putin. 

The 2 exchanged items of wine and “candy” notes because the Russian chief celebrated his seventieth birthday.

Meloni responded to Berlusconi’s feedback by warning him there was no place in her authorities for anybody backing Russia.