Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with several European leaders in Rome over the weekend following Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration.
At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Albanese confirmed a group of tanks Australia promised to Ukraine in October were on their way.
Albanese also met with European Union (EU) President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss free trade and a possible defence partnership with Europe.
Here’s what you need to know.
Pope's inauguration
On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV was inaugurated as the head of the Catholic Church. He is the first Pope from North America.
Following his inauguration, the Pope met with several world leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Speaking to reporters, Albanese said the Pope “expressed a warmth about Australia, and I told him that it was a great honour for me to be there.”
Zelenskyy
After the inauguration, Albanese met with Zelenskyy to affirm Australia’s support for Ukraine and “resistance” of Russia’s “illegal aggression.”
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The leaders discussed the Australian Government’s promise to donate old tanks to Ukraine in October 2024. Albanese confirmed that the tanks “are on their way.”
Zelenskyy thanked Albanese for the “military support” but also encouraged Australia to “put more pressure, more sanctions on Russia.”
EU Defence Pact
Albanese also met with von der Leyen to discuss a defence pact between the EU and Australia. Last year, the EU signed security agreements with South Korea and Japan in response to increased tensions in the region.
Von der Leyen told Albanese in front of reporters: “We do not only see you as a trading partner, but we see you as a strategic partner, and we would very much like to broaden this strategic partnership.”
Albanese said the discussion is in its “very early stages at this point.”
Trade deal
Albanese also said he discussed “the importance of free and fair trade” with von der Leyen.
Australia and the EU – which negotiates trade deals as one entity on behalf of 27 countries – have been discussing a new trade deal since 2018.
In 2023, the deal fell through after EU negotiators refused to give Australian farmers cheaper access to the European market unless they renamed Australian-made products including feta, prosecco, prosciutto, and parmesan.
