This assessment was made by Ms. Meloni at a meeting between Ukrainian and Italian officials in Rome earlier this week, attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Although the local media described the meeting as "constructive and mutually trusting", the two sides have actually had disagreements on how to visualize the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Meloni said she was clear that Ukraine needed to consider the possibility of having to accept some painful grades.
In response, Mr Zelensky suggested that Italy calm down on US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly warned Kiev to consider ceding part of its territory based on the current front line towards a ceasefire with Moscow.
This difference comes not only from Italy's support for the US's efforts to reach a peace deal soon, but also because Meloni's team believes that corruption scandals have significantly weakened the Zelensky administration.
According to Italian media, despite being an ally of Ukraine, Rome still prioritizes pursuing the goal of building a just and sustainable peace plan, while taking into account Washington's leadership role more than Europe's.
The above discussions took place in the context of the 28-point peace plan drafted by the US leaked last month. The first version is believed to be a request for Kiev to withdraw from the controlled part of Donbass, accepting to stand outside NATO and agreeing to limit the size of its armed forces.
Trump has recently criticized Zelensky for failing to grasp the revised proposals. Mr Trump also said Mr Zelensky needs to be more real about the conflict, arguing that the Ukrainian people want the war to end soon.
For its part, Russia said the US plan could be used as a basis for future agreements, asserting that an agreement must include Ukraine's withdrawal from newly added territories, a commitment to stay outside NATO and carrying out desarmony.
