Ukraine invasion shows peace can't be taken for granted - Draghi

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 1 - Premier Mario Draghi said Tuesday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine showed that peace in Europe could not be taken for granted and said a resolute response to Moscow's aggression was necessary.
    "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a decisive turning point in European history," Draghi said as he reported to the Senate on the Ukraine crisis.
    "In recent decades many people illuded themselves that war would never again find space in Europe; that the horrors that characterised the 20th century were unrepeatable monstrosities; that the multilateral institutions created after the Second Wold War were destined to protect us forever.
    "In other words, that we could take for granted the peace, security and prosperity won by the generations that preceded us with enormous sacrifices.
    "The images coming from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Maripol and the other cities of Ukraine fighting for freedom in Europe mark the end of these illusions.
    "The heroic resistance of the Ukraine people, of its President (Volodymyr) Zelensky put us in front of a new reality that obliges us to make decisions that were unthinkable a few months ago.
    "I want to reiterate once again all my solidarity, that of the government and the Italian people, to President Zelensky, to the Ukraine government and all the male and female citizens of Ukraine.
    "Putin's Revanchist design has been revealed clearly today in his words and in his acts.
    "The threat to make those interfering in the invasion of Ukraine pay 'consequences never previously experienced in history', the extreme blackmail of the use of nuclear weapons, require a united, firm and rapid reaction". (ANSA).