Ukraine has conferred one of its highest awards on Italy's outgoing president Mario Draghi, the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky told Draghi during a phonecall on Thursday.
Draghi said he was "honoured and moved" to be given Ukraine's First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
"I am honoured and moved by this award," Draghi told Zelensky during their phone conversation.
"I will be happy to collect the award from you in Kiev when I am free from my institutional commitments," Draghi said.
Italy will not recognize the results of the "illegal" referendums on joining Russia that were held in recent days in four Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, Draghi's office said in a statement.
Draghi also "confirmed the Italian government's continued support to the Ukrainian authorities and people in all spheres," said the statement.
