Italy pledges continued support for Ukraine - and why it matters
Italy has pledged its continued support for Kyiv and reiterated its commitment to achieving a "just peace" for Ukraine.

There has been much talk in recent months that Vladimir Putin is hoping that, in time, those supporting Ukraine militarily and financially will grow weary with the cost.

Support for Ukraine has been a contentious topic within Italy's ruling coalition, which includes Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvini's League and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia parties.

Ms Meloni is a staunch supporter of Kyiv, while her allies Mr Salvini and Mr Berlusconi have been much more ambiguous due to their historical ties with Russia and President Putin.

But in a statement following a phone call between Ms Meloni and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Italian government said: "Meloni renewed the Italian government's full support for Kyiv in the political, military, economic and humanitarian fields, to repair energy infrastructure and (to work) for the future reconstruction of Ukraine."