Poland's Mateusz Morawiecki and Italy's Giorgia Meloni discussed issues including European security and military assistance to Kyiv, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Support for Ukraine
At a joint news conference afterwards, the Polish prime minister said: "We talked with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about further weapons deliveries to Ukraine to bring peace, stability and the possibility of development. In order to control the energy and economic crisis, Ukraine must defeat Russia with the support of the countries of the free world.”
Morawiecki added: “I am glad that Italy, although it is far away from Russia and Ukraine, understands what is happening there and feels how important it is for the future of Europe. The Italian and Polish governments see these problems in the same way.”
Poland, Italy 'feel responsible for Europe'
The Polish prime minister went on to say: “Italy and Poland have absolutely identical positions on these issues and together we feel a similar responsibility. But we also feel responsible for Europe and its development in the future.”
Morawiecki told reporters: “We want a strong Europe. The EU will be a global player when it reflects the combined strengths and interests of all member states equally. Our meeting is a clear signal of the unity of Poland and Italy regarding the EU's internal problems.”
'A Europe of strong states, a Europe of homelands'
Referring to bilateral relations, Morawiecki said that Polish-Italian trade was "growing and developing very well."
He added, as quoted by his office: "That's important too. We also share democratic and Christian values as well as the vision of a Europe of strong states, a Europe of homelands.”
Ukraine, Poland 'can count' on Italy
Meanwhile, Italy’s Meloni stated that her country had supplied Ukraine with financial, military and humanitarian aid since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
She vowed this assistance would continue.
“Ukraine knows it can count on us and Poland knows it can count on us,” the Italian prime minister said.
Meloni paid tribute to the way Poland and its people have been helping Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, public broadcaster TVP Info reported.
She said, as cited by TVP Info: “It’s a nation to whom we, as Europeans, owe it to say ‘thank you’ for the magnificent work it has been doing to support Ukraine."
Later on Monday, Meloni was due to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda. On Tuesday, she is set to travel to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, news outlets reported.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, who made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, starts a two-day visit to Poland on Tuesday.
Biden is expected to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, deliver a major speech in the gardens of Warsaw’s Royal Castle nearly a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and attend a summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of eastern-flank NATO allies, according to officials.
Monday is day 362 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, tvp.info
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland’s Michał Owczarek.