New Italian PM sees tough times, but backs Ukraine

Giorgia Meloni

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's first woman prime minister, vowed on Tuesday to steer the country through some of the hardest times since World War Two and to maintain support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Striking a combative tone in her maiden speech to parliament, Meloni said her nationalist, right-wing coalition would make its voice heard in Europe and stressed her opposition to racism and discrimination.

Italy would continue to support Western sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin despite a squeeze on gas imports from Moscow, Meloni said during a wide-ranging speech that lasted more than an hour. "Giving in to Putin's blackmail on energy would not solve the problem, it would exacerbate it by opening the way to further demands and blackmail," Meloni, 45, said.

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