Zelensky in the Italian Parliament: “Imagine Genoa as Mariupol”
“The Russian invasion is destroying families, it continues to devastate Ukrainian cities, some are completely destroyed like Mariupol, which half a million inhabitants, is like Genoa, imagine Genoa completely burnt, where they disappear completely; imagine Genoa’s escape from people who flee by bus to stay safe “. A standing ovation from the Italian parliamentarians welcomes the live image projected on the videos of the Chamber of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Our people became an army” when he saw “the evil that the enemy brings, how much devastation it leaves, how much bloodshed”.
“We intend to testify in the most solemn way the closeness and support of all the Italian Parliament and people to Ukraine and its free democratic institutions in the face of the unjustifiable attack by the Russian Federation. And we join, in an ideal chain of solidarity, to the parliaments of other countries in front of which you have already spoken “, said in his speech the President of the Chamber, Roberto Fico. “Italy has opened its heart and doors” to Ukraine, “we are at your side together with the EU to counter the continuation of the conflict”, said the President of the Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati.
Today Zelensky had a telephone conversation with Pope Francis and invited him to Ukraine. The Ukrainian president told the Pope “the difficult humanitarian crisis and the blocking of the rescue corridors by Russian forces”. “The Holy See’s mediating role in ending human suffering would be welcomed,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter, reporting the contents of the interview. “I thanked His Holiness for the prayers for peace and for Ukraine”.
“A week ago I spoke at a meeting in Florence, I asked all Italians to bring the number 79, which was the number of children killed, now they are 117, due to the postponement of the war. With Russian pressure there are thousands of injured, thousands of thousands of lives destroyed, of abandoned houses, the dead in mass graves and in nearby parks “, Zelensky said in liaison are sent,” The Ukrainians are yours during the pandemic, we have doctors and Italians helped us during the flood. We greatly appreciate the invasion for 27 days, almost a month: we need other sanctions, other pressures “.
The president thanked the Italians for their help: “More than 70,000 were forced to flee, more than 25,000 children. In Italy the first Ukrainian child was born to a mother who escaped from the war caused by a single person, destined for children are in your hospitals and we are grateful to you. From the first day you shared our pain, you helped the Ukrainians with your warmth and strength “. Russian officials and oligarchs
“They use Italy as a place for their holidays, they must not welcome these people. You must freeze properties and accounts, seize yachts and freeze the assets of those in Russia who have the power of decision. You must affirm the sanctions and the Russian ship embargo. in your ports – he continued – you must absolutely not allow exceptions to sanctions for any Russian bank “.
“The resistance of all the places” in Ukraine “where President Putin’s ferocity strikes is heroic”, replied Prime Minister Mario Draghi in the Chamber. “Ukraine is not only defending itself, but our peace, our security. Italy is deeply grateful to you”, said the premier. “The solidarity of Italy” towards Ukraine “is an enormous people. The Italians have opened their doors wide”, Italy continues to help the Ukrainian. “In the face of incivility, Italy does not intend to turn the other way. Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union”.