Zelenski warns of the consequences of war for Europe and the world

Cristina Cabrejas Rome, 22 Mar The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, today warned of the consequences for the whole world of the war unleashed by Russia and assured that the invasion of his country is the door of Vladimir Putin “to enter Europe”, in his speech to the Italian Parliament. In the round of interventions that the Ukrainian president has had in parliaments of countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Israel, today he addressed the nearly 1,000 Italian parliamentarians gathered in the Chamber of Deputies who received him standing and with a strong ovation. Sitting at his now famous desk and in a twelve-minute speech, Zelensky called to the conscience of the Italians by asking them to imagine a port city like Genoa “completely razed like Mariupol”, urging them to further sanctions against Russia and the oligarchs and, above all, warning of Putin's true goal: “It's not Ukraine, but Europe”. THE DOOR TO ENTER EUROPE The Ukrainian president assured that Russia wants to “influence Europe” and that “its ultimate goal is not Ukraine, but Europe. Be in control of politics, values, democracy, human rights. Ukraine is just the gateway of the Russian Army to enter Europe. But barbarism cannot enter.” “The invasion has been going on for 27 days, a month, and we need other sanctions and other pressure so that Russia cannot stock up on military reserves in Libya or Syria, and for peace to return,” Zelenski said. In reference to the oligarchs, he called on Italy to close its doors to all those who make propaganda “and who chose this country for their holidays”, as well as to continue to seize their accounts, yachts, real estate and assets, and that “no exception be allowed to any Russian bank.” He warned that the Russian Army has mined the coasts, which “poses a danger to all nearby countries” and recalled that thanks to the export of gas and oil, the war has been financed for the past ten years. Zelenski stressed that the consequences of the war are already felt in other parts of the world and that many are beginning to go hungry because Ukraine was a major exporter: “How can we sow under Russian artillery, which destroys our fields? We cannot export corn, oil, wheat and all these necessary products. Prices are growing and many people are going to need help” He also thanked Italy's welcome to the more than 70,000 Ukrainians who have arrived in the country fleeing the war, including 25,000 children, and the hospitals that are taking care of the wounded and where “the first child of a mother who escaped the war” was born. “Only one person needs to be arrested for millions to survive,” said Zelenski, who avoided saying Putin's name in his speech and did not mention requests made on other occasions to close the airspace. ITALY WANTS UKRAINE IN THE EU After the Ukrainian president, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke, who called that of the Ukrainian people a “heroic resistance”: “Ukraine is not only defending itself, but our peace and security.” “The arrogance of the Russian government clashed with the dignity of the Ukrainian people, who succeeded in curbing Moscow's expansionist objectives and imposing very high costs on the invading army,” Draghi continued. The Italian president informed Zelensky that assets worth eight hundred million euros have already been frozen for Russian oligarchs and that special corridors for orphans have been activated, in addition to new funds being allocated to finance the effort to receive Ukrainian citizens. “In the face of incivility, Italy does not intend to turn its back; in the face of Russia, which wanted us to divide, we are united as Europe,” he added. And about Ukraine's request for entry into the EU, Draghi assured Zelenski that they are next to his country: “Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union,” he said, drawing applause from parliamentarians. There were some empty gaps in the Chamber during Zelenski's speech, as some former members of the 5-Star Movement, as well as some members of the League or a deputy from Forza Italia, had said that they would not listen to the Ukrainian president considering that his speech was only “propaganda”. CHIEF ccg/mr/jgb (photo) (video) (audio)