• Mario Draghi reaffirmed his strong support for Ukraine’s hopes of joining the European Union.
• On a trip to Kyiv with the French and German leaders. Draghi called Irpin a “place of massacres committed by the Russian army”.
• Draghi said the EU leaders wanted peace, but said Ukraine must be able to defend itself — and must choose the peace it wants.

Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi reaffirmed his strong support for Ukraine’s hopes of joining the European Union, On a trip to Kyiv with the French and German leaders,

“The most important message of our visit is that Italy wants Ukraine in the EU,” Draghi told a news conference after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“And it wants Ukraine to have candidate status and will support this position at the next European Council.

“President Zelensky, as he just said, of course, understands that the path from candidate to member is a road, it is not a point. It is a road that will have to see profound reforms in Ukrainian society.”

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He hailed the “extraordinary unity” the EU had shown in supporting Ukraine “in every way”.

“We are at a turning point in our history. Every day, the Ukrainian people defend the values of democracy and freedom that underpin the European project, our project,” Draghi said.

“We cannot hesitate, delay this process. We must create a community of peace, prosperity and rights that unites Kyiv with Rome, Paris, Berlin and all the other countries that share this project.”

With French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Draghi visited the war-torn Kyiv suburb of Irpin.

The Italian premier called it a “place of massacres committed by the Russian army”, which he condemned “without hesitation”, adding that international investigations into potential war crimes had his full support.

Draghi said the EU leaders wanted peace, but said Ukraine must be able to defend itself — and must choose the peace it wants.

He also addressed fears of a global crisis caused by Russia’s blockade of ports in Ukraine, which before the conflict was considered one of the world’s breadbaskets.

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“Safe corridors for grain transport must be created as a matter of urgency, because the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine must not turn into a global catastrophe,” he said.

He continued: “Europe is at a crossroads. We must face the challenges ahead with courage, the same courage that President Zelensky has shown, determination, and unity.”