(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 22 - Italy won't look the other way on the "barbarism" of the Russian assault on Ukraine, Premier Mario Draghi told Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky after the latter addressed the Italian parliament via videolink on Tuesday.
Draghi praised the "heroic" resistance of the Ukrainian people faced with the "ferocity" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Draghi said Italy had frozen assets worth over 800 million euros belonging to Russian oligarchs; that Rome wanted Kyiv in the EU; and that Italy would send military as well as other aid in view of the "massacres" Russian troops are perpetrating.
"Ukraine is defending our own peace and security," he stressed.
Draghi also said that Italy would soon wean itself off its dependence on Russian gas; that "Moscow wanted us to split but instead we have been united", and that "Putin is isolated while the international community is united against him". (ANSA).
We won't look the other way on barbarism Draghi tells Zelensky
Ukrainians' 'heroic' resistance to Putin's 'ferocity' says PM