President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Saturday in Rome that the results of the inevitable counteroffensive to retake the territories captured by Russia will soon be visible, but he did not want to give details of the operation, as it “will not help Ukraine.” , reports EFE.PRAVA Agerpres.

“Important steps will be taken soon,” Zelensky said on RAI public television after a busy day in the Italian capital, where he met with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Georgia Maloney, as well as Pope Francis.

Answering questions about the details of the operation, Zelenskyy did not want to specify them, saying that it would not help Ukraine, but noted: “We are preparing with great dedication and will take important steps. We are very motivated. I cannot answer “About time and methods”, “but you will see the results, we believe in victory”.

He also stated that “if Ukraine falls, the next step is Moldova and the Baltic states.” “Let’s imagine that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will come to NATO countries. Maybe not to Italy, but they will send your sons to fight for the defense of NATO countries. It is better to help Ukraine than to send your children to war,” he said.

As for the EU’s losses from the import of Ukrainian wheat, Zelenskyi said: “We will compensate the EU for what the producers lose,” because “Ukraine is already Europe.”

At the meetings with Mattarella and Meloni, Zelensky secured the full support of Kyiv from Italy, both in terms of the war and in its aspirations to join the EU and NATO.

“It is very important for us to be a part of the EU,” he explained, adding that Kyiv “expects a lot” from the upcoming summit of the Atlantic Alliance, because “we are fighting as a NATO country would fight.” “.

The Ukrainian president expressed hope that progress could be made in both areas “this year”, an aspect that Maloney supported, and said that Italy was working on this with the EU and with European Commission President Ursula von. der Leyen.

Pope Francis and Zelensky talked for 40 minutes

Pope Francis on Saturday stressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the “urgent” need for “humane gestures” towards the “innocent victims of the conflict”, while the Kyiv leader said the war is in his country and that the peace plan “must be Ukrainian”. .

The Pope and Zelensky met for 40 minutes in the Vatican, the meeting is expected after the sovereign Pontiff announced that a peacekeeping mission is underway in Ukraine, the details of which are still unknown, but their positions, close on humanitarian issues, were far apart. in terms of political negotiations.

“It was an honor for me to meet with His Holiness, but he knows my position, the war in Ukraine and the plan must be Ukrainian. We are very interested in the Vatican being involved in our peace formula,” Zelenskyy said after the meeting. , in the RAI public television show.

He insisted: “With all due respect to His Holiness, we do not need mediators between Ukraine and the aggressor” because “Russia will block” any attempt, saying that this is not a veto against the Vatican or any other country, but that Impossible negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he would not discuss even if necessary: ​​”No, about what,” Zelensky answered the question.

It will be recalled that two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters were shot down on Saturday near the border with Ukraine, Kommersant reported, which would be a striking blow to Kyiv’s support.

There was no official response from Ukraine, which usually refuses to comment on reports of attacks inside Russia.

However, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, called the incident “Justice… and karma” on Twitter.

At the same time, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar reported on Saturday evening that Ukrainian troops are advancing in two directions in the city of Bakhmut in the east of the country.