The Grotius Prize was today presented to Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Government, during her visit to Policy Exchange in London today, in recognition of her stalwart support for Ukraine.

Accepting the Grotius Prize from Lord Godson, Director of Policy Exchange, she said:

“It is a time of uncertainty and crisis. A time in which all of us – as individuals, populations and Nations - have the opportunity to prove ourselves. A crisis can be the engine of a choice, of an action, of a change. From a crisis we can emerge stronger and freer. And we can track the direction of a new path. A path in which we must have the ability to preserve what is precious and irreplaceable. Our identity, our history, our values. The civilization we built.

“We don’t stand with Ukraine because we like the war, we stand with Ukraine because what we want to defend is stronger than the fear of war.”