In phone talks with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, Italy's premier Mario Draghi reaffirmed the government's support for Ukraine and its authorities and willingness to help end Russia's devastating war.
"The conversation focused on the latest developments in the situation on the ground in Ukraine and assistance to the country," a statement from Draghi's office said on Wednesday.
"Prime Minister Draghi reaffirmed the Italian Government’s full support for the Kyiv authorities and Italy’s readiness to contribute to finding a lasting solution to the crisis," the statement added.
After the call Zelensky tweeted thanks for Italy's involvement in investigations of suspected war crimes in Ukraine by Russian forces and for its "principled support" of possible further sanctions against Russia.
Draghi and Zelensky's talks came after Zelensky issued a message overnight warning that Russia's two-month-old invasion of Ukraine was "only the beginning", as almost the entire "free world" had understood.
The Russian leadership's goal "is not only to conquer Ukraine's territory but to dismantle the whole of central and eastern Europe and to deal a global blow to democracy," Zelensky stated in the message.
