– We are completely on their side, assured Italian President Sergio Mattarella when he welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyj to Rome.

A flight ban has been imposed in the capital in light of Saturday’s visit, and police have deployed snipers on several of the city’s rooftops.

The Ukrainian president will also meet Pope Francis in Rome.

The President of Ukraine was brought to the presidential palace in the Eternal City at 12 o’clock. There, President Sergio Mattarella greeted him, and the national anthems of the two countries were played before the presidents held a private meeting.

– We are completely on their side, said Mattarella.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who met Zelenskyj at the airport, told the press that Italy would continue to support Ukraine “360 degrees” and push for a just peace that guarantees Ukraine’s independence.

– This is an important visit given Ukraine’s impending victory, Zelenskyj tweeted shortly before he arrived in Rome.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is a staunch supporter of military and other aid to Ukraine.

His far-right party, Brothers of Italy, is a clear champion of the principle of national sovereignty. At the same time, Meloni must face the fact that the leaders of the two coalition partners in the government have publicly expressed their admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin for years.

Coalition partner and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi boasted of his friendship with Putin, while La Liga leader Matteo Salvini questioned the value of economic sanctions against Russia.

Since Russia’s invasion last year, Italy has contributed around 1 billion euros in military and economic support, in addition to humanitarian aid.

In a meeting with Mattarella who was on a state visit to Norway last Thursday, Zelenskyj received assurances that this support would continue, both in the short and long term. That’s according to sources at the presidential palace in Rome told the AFP news agency. (NTB)