Ukraine: Stop the bloodshed Draghi tells Putin

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 24 - Italian Premier Mario Draghi said Russian President Vladimir Putin must "put an end to the bloodshed and withdraw military forces from (within) the borders of Ukraine in an unconditional way" after Moscow launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine.
    He said the EU was preparing a "tough package of sanctions" and dialogue with Moscow was "impossible" at the moment.
    "These are hours of great worry for the citizens," he said.
    "Tomorrow I will report to parliament about the ongoing conflict.
    "The government intends to work ceaselessly to resolve the crisis together with our allies and we will do everything necessary to guarantee the sovereignty of Ukraine, the security of the EU and the international order based on the rules agreed by us all.
    "Ukraine is a European country, a friendly nation and a democracy that has been hit in its legitimate sovereignty," he added.
    He stressed that the Italian embassy in Kiev remains "open and fully operative, maintaining contact with the Ukraine authorities, in close coordination with the other embassies, in order to protect around 2,000 Italian resident (in Ukraine).
    "The embassy remains on maximum alert, ready to adopt every decision necessary". (ANSA).