'India, China Have Role To Play In Resolving’ Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Italy’s Meloni As She Meets Zelenskyy

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm Italy's unwavering support for Ukraine. She also discussed the potential roles of China and India in resolving the conflict

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed Italy's steadfast support for Ukraine during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. The discussion, held on the sidelines of the annual TEHA business forum at Lake Como, centred on Kyiv's plans to end the war with Russia and its reconstruction efforts. Meloni emphasised Italy's unyielding stance, declaring, "It's a choice that won't change," and underscored the importance of supporting Ukraine not only from a moral perspective but also from a national interest standpoint.

She highlighted that the decision to back Ukraine was essential to safeguarding international rules designed to protect national integrity, news agency Reuters reported.

During her remarks, Meloni noted the potential roles of China and India in resolving the conflict, stating, "I believe China and India have a role to play in resolving the conflict. The only thing that cannot happen is to think that the conflict can be solved by abandoning Ukraine. The choice of supporting Ukraine has been first and foremost a choice of national interest, and it's a choice that won't change."

Her comments align with recent calls from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who urged China to cease its support for Russia, asserting that Beijing's assistance has been a significant factor in prolonging the war. China has labelled such statements from NATO as 'malicious' and biased.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that India, along with China and Brazil, could be among the three countries from Russia's side as mediators for peace talks with Ukraine. Putin suggested that a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators during the early stages of the war in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as a basis for future discussions, as reported by Reuters.

'With An Invasion, You Don't Have Peace Talks': Italian PM Meloni On Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Meloni dismissed the notion that the war’s outcome was predetermined as "Russian propaganda," asserting that Western support was crucial for the possibility of eventual peace talks. According to Reuters, she commented, "With an invasion, you don't have peace talks, you don't need a negotiating table. The need for it emerges, if anything, with a stalemate ... the stalemate that we have contributed to creating."

In a separate engagement at the forum, Zelenskyy stressed the necessity of full support from Ukraine's allies to strengthen its position for future negotiations with Russia. He also shared his peace and reconstruction plans, particularly focusing on revitalising Ukraine's energy system.

Earlier, Zelenskyy had dined with Italian business leaders in preparation for next year's reconstruction conference. He announced that companies would soon have the opportunity to bid for contracts, and a digital platform for the event would be launched in the coming months.