"Italy has been determined to support Ukraine since the beginning of the (Russian) invasion with financial, military and humanitarian support," she said at the end of her meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

"Ukraine knows it can count on us across the board.

"Ukraine can count on Italy, we have been there and we will be there".

Prime Minister Morawiecki said at the end of his meeting with Meloni that they talked about continued arms supplies to Kyiv.

"The Italian and Polish governments are jointly supplying arms, we talked about the future supply of arms to Ukraine so that there will be peace and stability," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, has said he will be happy to give Meloni a warm welcome when she decides to visit Ukraine and thanked Italy for its ongoing support after the Russian invasion.

Zelensky also acknowledged that Rome's stance with respect to Kyiv has not changed despite a row over controversial comments critical of him by Meloni's alliance partner, ex-premier and Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi.

"We have received a (new) package of aid, which means that the support of Premier Giorgia Meloni has not changed," Zelensky told Rai television.

"On the contrary, I thank here and I await her. I know that she is coming (soon).

"We have great respect for Italy and the Italian people".

Meloni, who was sworn in as Italy's first woman premier last October, said she intended to visit Ukraine before the upcoming first anniversary of the Russian invasion.

ANSA