Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed Italy's unwavering support for Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. The two leaders discussed Kyiv's plans for ending the war with Russia and the reconstruction efforts that will follow.

Their meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual TEHA business forum at Lake Como, ahead of Italy’s role as host for next year’s Ukraine reconstruction conference.

Meloni emphasized that Italy’s support for Ukraine is steadfast, not only because it is morally right but also in the country’s national interest, as it helps protect global norms related to national sovereignty. "This is a choice that will not change," she assured, while also highlighting the roles that China and India could play in resolving the conflict. Meloni stressed that abandoning Ukraine was not an option for peace.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed similar sentiments on Friday, calling on China to cease its support for Russia in the ongoing war. Stoltenberg noted that Beijing's assistance has been a critical factor in the conflict's continuation. China, however, has dismissed such statements from NATO as 'malicious' and biased.

Meloni also pushed back against Russian narratives suggesting that the war’s outcome was already predetermined, calling it "propaganda." She added that Western support has created conditions for future peace talks, stating, "With an invasion, you don’t need peace talks. The need arises when a stalemate occurs, which we have contributed to creating."

Zelenskyy, speaking at the forum, stressed that Ukraine needs full backing from its allies to be in a strong position for eventual negotiations with Russia. In a post on X on Saturday, he shared that his talks with Meloni focused on his peace plan and strategies for rebuilding Ukraine, particularly in the energy sector.

Prior to meeting Meloni, Zelenskyy had dinner with Italian business leaders, discussing opportunities for companies to bid on reconstruction projects. He also mentioned that a digital platform for the upcoming conference would be launched in the coming months.