Zelensky in the Italian Parliament: Mariupol is destroyed, imagine Genoa in ruins

After the video connections with the Parliaments of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Germany and Israel, the Ukrainian president also spoke to the Italian Chambers, meeting in Montecitorio. And he recalled the telephone conversation he had a little earlier with Pope Francis

Amedeo Lomonaco - Vatican City The speech of Ukrainian President Zelensky, in video link from Kiev in front of the Italian Parliament, opened with the reference to a telephone call that took place shortly before. "Dear Italian people - said the head of state of Ukraine - today I spoke with Pope Francis and he spoke very important words". Zelensky said that the people have become the army: Ukraine has seen "evil that brings the enemy "and" how much devastation it leaves. "The Ukrainian president then recalled that last week he spoke during the peace meeting held in Florence." I asked everyone to remember the number 79 which was the number of children killed. Now there are 117. This is the price of postponing the conflict ".

A country in ruins Referring to the "fruits" of the war, President Zelensky said that tens of thousands of families have been destroyed and millions of homes abandoned. In Ukrainian cities the dead "are buried in mass graves and parks and this happens in 2022". The war continues and entire cities like Mariupol are destroyed. A city, which was inhabited by half a million people, as big as Genoa. "There is nothing left in Mariupol, only ruins: imagine Genoa - said Zelensky - completely burned down after three weeks of siege". In Kiev, the Ukrainian president added, every day the sirens sound and every night the bombs fall. Several Russian troops are deployed around Kiev, Zelensky recalled. "The sea in front of our ports has also been mined".

War and Europe - "Ukraine - continued the Ukrainian president - is the gate for the Russian army that wants to enter Europe". The consequences of the war, he continued, are not felt only in Europe: Ukraine has always been one of the major exporters of wheat and corn. Now the fields are being destroyed and cannot be cultivated. This has very serious consequences for the peoples of countries close to Europe: also due to the increase in food prices, the Ukrainian head of state underlined, the tragedy of hunger will affect tens of millions of people who will need help. Together with Italy and Europe, Ukraine will have to be rebuilt after the war. "I want to thank - said Zelensky - the Italian people for the welcome given to Ukrainian refugees: today in Italy there are more than 70,000 people who have been forced to leave Ukraine, to flee the war". Of these, at least 25,000 are children: most of them have been taken in by families. "Dozens of children - he recalled - are also hospitalized in Italian hospitals". And, thanking the Italian people, he concluded: “From the first day of this war you have shared our pain with us; you helped the Ukrainians who will always remember your warmth, your help ”.

Prime Minister Draghi: Italy wants Ukraine to join the EU After Zelensky's speech, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi took the floor: "Today Ukraine - he said - defends not only itself but our peace, freedom and security". Ukraine to Europe: it is a long process made up of necessary reforms. Italy - said the premier - is alongside Ukraine in this process. Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union ".

Original Article translated from Italian to English: https://www.vaticannews.va/it/mondo/news/2022-03/discorso-zelensky-ucraina-parlamento-italiano.html