Italy not to succumb to Putin's energy blackmail, support for Ukraine to continue - PM Meloni

The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Maloni, during his first address to the country’s parliament on Tuesday, said that Italy would not succumb to Putin's energy blackmail and continue to support Ukraine.

This was reported by Financial Times, according to Ukrinform.

“Giving in to Putin’s blackmail on energy would not solve the problem, it would make it worse by opening the way to further demands and blackmail,” she said.

She said her government would offer financial support to families and businesses affected by the energy crisis, warning that the high cost of the move meant her administration might have to shelve some of its campaign promises.

The head of government added that Italy would continue to support Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia due to the latter’s full-scale aggression.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party Giorgia Meloni, 45, officially took the oath of the head of the Italian government on Saturday, October 22, becoming the first female prime minister in the country's history.