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".
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