Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Rome ahead of talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican, has received assurances from Italian leaders of continued military and other aid as his country fights to liberate itself from Russia’s military invasion launched last year.The pontiff recently said that the Vatican has launched a behind-the-scenes initiative to try to end the war, which broke out in February 2022.Mr Zelensky arrived at a military airfield and was met by Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani, before being whisked off to meetings with president Sergio Mattarella and premier Giorgia Meloni. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.