Ukraine has already won its fight to defend its own national identity, Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni has said.

"The invasion, which started on February 24, 2022, in the thoughts of its initiator should have lasted several days, but everything did not go as expected. Since, probably, the heroic reaction of the people [of Ukraine] ready to do everything, was underestimated to protect their own freedom, sovereignty and their own identity," Meloni said at a press conference with the President of Ukraine in Kyiv on Tuesday.

She said the struggle of the Ukrainian people reminded her of the birth of the Italian state.

"As there was a period when they said about Italy that it does not exist as a nation and state, that it is just a geographical unit. However, during the national liberation movement of the Risorgimento, Italy was recognized as a state, people and nation," the prime minister said.

"I want to say that Ukraine has already won its fight to defend its own national identity," Meloni said, adding "she stressed, and also told in the presence of journalists how she read the poetry of a young Ukrainian soldier in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera before being sent to the frontline – about his love for his country."

"And this [his poetry] made me think that love for the motherland is something spontaneous. Your mind cannot prevail over these feelings. And we see these efforts that both we and you have made [for their countries]. And you also taught us a lot, Ukraine," she said.

The Italian Prime Minister also said her country has supported Ukraine since the first Russian invasion and will continue to work to find a way out of the war.

"No peace option that would be unfair for Ukraine can be considered real peace. No peace providing for the surrender of Ukraine can be considered peace, that would be an invasion. And it is not peace. The victory of Russia cannot be considered peace. This is invasion. And Ukraine's loss would be a precondition for Russia's invasion of other European countries. Those who support Ukraine militarily are those who are also making efforts for peace. And we do this every day," Meloni said.