LONDON (AA) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the importance of unity in supporting a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

During her address Tuesday in a video conference call of the Coalition of the Willing, Meloni expressed appreciation for the negotiation process launched in Geneva at the initiative of the US, her office said in a statement following the call.

It noted that Meloni also underscored "the importance of unity in supporting a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."

"In this context, the need was also stressed for solid security guarantees shared between the two sides of the Atlantic," said the statement.

During the discussion, Meloni expressed her hope that Russia "would take this new opportunity to constructively contribute to peace."