Italy supports Ukraine’s accession to the EU – Prime Minister

After President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech in the Italian parliament, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that his country wants Ukraine to become a full member of the European Union.

I want to tell President Zelenskyy that Italy is next to Ukraine in this process. Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union, – the head of the Italian government said.

Draghi said that Italy admired the courage, determination and patriotism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians.

Today Ukraine is not just defending itself, it is defending our peace, freedom and security. It defends this multilateral order based on the rules and rights that we diligently created after the war. Italy is deeply grateful to you, – Draghi said.

He said that Italy had already received more than 60,000 refugees from Ukraine, mostly women and children, and would continue to help Ukrainians who had been forced to flee their homes due to the russian attack.

In an address to the Italian parliament Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for support for a full embargo on Russia, including oil, and for blocking russian real estate, accounts, yachts and assets of all people who had influence.

The head of the state also asked to ban the entry of russian ships to Italian ports and to support the imposition of sanctions against russian banks.