Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a speech to the Italian Parliament on March 22. Zelensky’s address was welcomed with a long-standing ovation by its members, with the speech followed by Prime Minister Mario Draghi saying “Italy wants Ukraine in the EU”.
To introduce President Zelensky’s address, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, and the President of the Senate, Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, thanked him and praised Ukrainians.
The latest Zelensky speech came in as his seventh address, after those in front of the the Chambers of Canada, UK, USA, Germany, Israel, and the European Parliament, and was followed by addresses to the Japanese and French Parliaments.
“Imagine Genoa totally brought to the ground: this is Mariupol now.” In front of the Italians, Zelensky referred to clear images and did not reiterate the request for a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Instead, as the first remark, President Zelensky reported on his talks with Pope Francis earlier that day, defining his words as “important”.
“Our people have become our army”, explained Zelensky, especially underscoring the humanitarian aspect of the ongoing aggression Ukraine is facing from Russia. “Procrastination” kills, and the war created “by a single individual”, the violence, looting and devastation it is carrying with it, were last done in Europe “by the Nazis” – reflected Zelensky.
This war is going to create “hunger”, he warned and called for “further pressure and sanctions” on Russians: “a complete embargo on trade, starting with oil. Support a ban on entry for Russian ships to your ports. So that they feel the price for their aggression and for mining the sea.”
Ukraine is “a gate” but the Russians’ “goal is Europe”, said Zelensky, they want to influence “your life, control your policies, destroy your values. Not only ours. Democracy, human rights, equality, freedom… The same values as ours”, but “barbarism must not pass”.
Zelensky thanked Italians for their efforts in welcoming fleeing Ukrainian families, and reminded those present of mutual cooperation and help during the last few difficult years.
Following Zelensky speech, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi addressed the Chambers and the president of Ukraine in a brief speech that set out exhaustively Italy’s position.
Italy admires the “courage, determination and patriotism” of Ukraine, “the arrogance of Russian government faces the dignity of the Ukrainian people”, their resistance is “heroic”, Ukraine is not defending only itself, but “our peace”, “our security” and “the rule-based and rights-based multilateral order” so arduously built after the Second World War.
Italians are grateful to Ukrainians and are supporting them with aid and welcoming them, along with the 236,000 Ukrainians already living in the country. An additional package of aid was approved by Parliament last Friday. Italy has already frozen the assets of Russian oligarchs in the country to the tune of over 800 million Euros. It is also working to overcoming its energy dependence on Russia.
The sanctions, approved along with EU and G7 partners, have the objective to let the Russian government cease hostilities and resort to negotiation with “commitment and sincerity”, explained Draghi.
At the same time, Italy is working for closer ties between Ukraine and the EU, “I want to tell President Zelensky that Italy is on the Ukrainian side”, “that Italy wants Ukraine in the European Union.” “In the face of violence, we have to respond with aid, even military aid, for the resistance,” added Draghi, “Ukraine has the right to be free, secure, and democratic” “Italy, its Parliament, and all the citizens, are on your side”.
Notwithstanding the government position, commentators noted that around 300 of 945 MPs were absent. Some were busy abroad, said Forza Italia MP Antonio Tajani, and some out of a personal choice, as Minister for Parliamentary Relations Federico D’Incà explained.
But some MP s from mixed groups, among which Paragone’s Italexit vindicated their absence as politically motivated, because “the Ukrainian President is not an Ambassador of Peace”.
The same position is shared by Vito Petrocelli of Movimento 5 Stelle, president of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Commission, that recently invited his party to leave the government because “interventionist” former PM and Movimento 5 Stelle leader Giuseppe Conte said in response that Petrocelli “has placed himself out of the Movement”.
Other parties are inviting MPs to unity, though prominent Senator Emma Bonino said those absent “will have to respond to their voters”.
