Peace must be based on Ukrainians' freedom - Mattarella

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 4 - President Sergio Mattarella said Friday that peace must be achieved in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and it must be based on the freedom and self-determination of the Ukrainian people.
    "Media organs from all over the world are showing the terrible images of a conflict that is not sparing the civilian population," Mattarella said during a visit to Bari as part of the celebrations for Italian armed forces day.
    "Elderly people and children fleeing bombs. Many months have passed without any sight of a glimmer (of hope for peace).
    "And yet peace continues to shout out that it is urgently needed.
    "Just peace, based on the respect of international law and liberty, and the free determination of the Ukrainian people.
    "We don't want to, and we cannot, get used to war.
    "We are used to peace.
    "The united Europe was the strongest antidote to selfishness and nationalism for 70 years.
    "The continent seemed to have deleted not just the word war, but its memory too.
    "Then suddenly war, the tragedy of war, reappeared on our continent.
    "It happened because of the deplorable and unacceptable attack that Russia waged on Ukraine and its people.
    "There has been fighting and dying in the heart of Europe since February". (ANSA).