03:04Mandatory credit: Palazzo Chigi
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claimed that the support for Ukraine put Russia into a 'stalemate' position, speaking at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio on Saturday.
"Russia does not have an imminent victory, but a stalemate. It is the stalemate that we helped create by supporting Ukraine, because Ukraine was born, the conflict was born with a huge disproportion between the two forces on the ground," she said.
Meloni added that the conflict can not be resolved 'by abandoning Ukraine to its fate' suggesting such decision 'will bring chaos'.
"It will bring wars closer to our home and it will bring many economic consequences much more serious than what it costs today to support Ukraine. Above all, it is a choice with regards to our national interest that Italy is making, it is a choice which will not change," she explained.
Italy's Prime Minister made those comments following a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the opening of the economic conference which is held annually on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy.
"I think that we must not give up on Ukraine and I say this with extreme clarity and I say it also knowing that clearly there is a public opinion that is frightened, legitimately and rightly worried about the war. I do not think at all that the fate of the conflict in Ukraine is sealed, I think that we must be careful not to fall into the traps of Russian propaganda," Meloni stated.
On Friday, during a meeting with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the American air base in Germany's Ramstein, Zelensky reiterated his request to be able to use long-range weapons provided by his partners "not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on Russian territory."
EU and NATO countries are divided over the use of weaponry by Kiev in the ongoing Kursk incursion on Russian soil, including long-range missiles. Moscow claims that such moves bring the West into 'direct' conflict with Russia.
Italy has spoken out against the use of its own equipment inside Russia. Germany has claimed the use of weapons supplied becomes Ukraine's own responsibility.
The UK has previously backed Kiev's right to use its long-range Storm Shadows inside Russia, but media reports suggested that Washington was blocking the move. The US has not commented, and currently claims to impose restrictions on its own long-range weaponry.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'A choice which will not change' - Italian PM Meloni claims sending weapons to Ukraine created 'stalemate' for Russia
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claimed that the support for Ukraine put Russia into a 'stalemate' position, speaking at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio on Saturday.
"Russia does not have an imminent victory, but a stalemate. It is the stalemate that we helped create by supporting Ukraine, because Ukraine was born, the conflict was born with a huge disproportion between the two forces on the ground," she said.
Meloni added that the conflict can not be resolved 'by abandoning Ukraine to its fate' suggesting such decision 'will bring chaos'.
"It will bring wars closer to our home and it will bring many economic consequences much more serious than what it costs today to support Ukraine. Above all, it is a choice with regards to our national interest that Italy is making, it is a choice which will not change," she explained.
Italy's Prime Minister made those comments following a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the opening of the economic conference which is held annually on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy.
"I think that we must not give up on Ukraine and I say this with extreme clarity and I say it also knowing that clearly there is a public opinion that is frightened, legitimately and rightly worried about the war. I do not think at all that the fate of the conflict in Ukraine is sealed, I think that we must be careful not to fall into the traps of Russian propaganda," Meloni stated.
On Friday, during a meeting with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the American air base in Germany's Ramstein, Zelensky reiterated his request to be able to use long-range weapons provided by his partners "not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on Russian territory."
EU and NATO countries are divided over the use of weaponry by Kiev in the ongoing Kursk incursion on Russian soil, including long-range missiles. Moscow claims that such moves bring the West into 'direct' conflict with Russia.
Italy has spoken out against the use of its own equipment inside Russia. Germany has claimed the use of weapons supplied becomes Ukraine's own responsibility.
The UK has previously backed Kiev's right to use its long-range Storm Shadows inside Russia, but media reports suggested that Washington was blocking the move. The US has not commented, and currently claims to impose restrictions on its own long-range weaponry.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Mandatory credit: Palazzo Chigi
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claimed that the support for Ukraine put Russia into a 'stalemate' position, speaking at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio on Saturday.
"Russia does not have an imminent victory, but a stalemate. It is the stalemate that we helped create by supporting Ukraine, because Ukraine was born, the conflict was born with a huge disproportion between the two forces on the ground," she said.
Meloni added that the conflict can not be resolved 'by abandoning Ukraine to its fate' suggesting such decision 'will bring chaos'.
"It will bring wars closer to our home and it will bring many economic consequences much more serious than what it costs today to support Ukraine. Above all, it is a choice with regards to our national interest that Italy is making, it is a choice which will not change," she explained.
Italy's Prime Minister made those comments following a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the opening of the economic conference which is held annually on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy.
"I think that we must not give up on Ukraine and I say this with extreme clarity and I say it also knowing that clearly there is a public opinion that is frightened, legitimately and rightly worried about the war. I do not think at all that the fate of the conflict in Ukraine is sealed, I think that we must be careful not to fall into the traps of Russian propaganda," Meloni stated.
On Friday, during a meeting with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the American air base in Germany's Ramstein, Zelensky reiterated his request to be able to use long-range weapons provided by his partners "not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on Russian territory."
EU and NATO countries are divided over the use of weaponry by Kiev in the ongoing Kursk incursion on Russian soil, including long-range missiles. Moscow claims that such moves bring the West into 'direct' conflict with Russia.
Italy has spoken out against the use of its own equipment inside Russia. Germany has claimed the use of weapons supplied becomes Ukraine's own responsibility.
The UK has previously backed Kiev's right to use its long-range Storm Shadows inside Russia, but media reports suggested that Washington was blocking the move. The US has not commented, and currently claims to impose restrictions on its own long-range weaponry.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.