One hundred and forty characters with two news items. It is diplomatic peace between Draghi and Zelensky; and the Italian premier would have announced to the Ukrainian president the opening of Italy to severe sanctions against Russia, such as exclusion from Swift, as already reiterated by the Prime Minister himself yesterday (“Italy is in line with the other countries »).
Ukraine, Draghi is moved: “Zelensky is in hiding, today he wanted to talk to me but it was not possible”
«This is the beginning of a new page in the history of our countries. Mario Draghi in a telephone conversation supported the disconnection of Russia from SWIFT, the provision of defense assistance. Ukraine must join the European Union ». At 10.24 am today the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after the frontal attack on the social networks of the previous day which gave rise to an “Italy case”, relaxed relations with the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
In a phone call with the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that “Italy will provide Ukraine with assistance in defending itself”, reads a note from Palazzo Chigi. The two presidents – it is added – “have agreed to remain in close contact in the immediate future”. Draghi also expressed Italy’s solidarity and closeness to the Ukrainian people in the face of the attack by the Russian Federation. President Zelensky confirmed the complete clarification of the misunderstanding of communications that took place yesterday and thanked President Draghi for his support and for the strong closeness and friendship between the two peoples.
Exactly 24 hours earlier, at 10.30 on Friday 25 February, this was how the “Case Italy” was born in the diplomatic fabric of the war in Ukraine. Draghi, in his urgent briefing to the Chambers in the morning, said: «The Ukrainian President Zelensky was connected to the extraordinary European Council. He is in Kiev, hidden somewhere ». Adding: “It was a truly dramatic moment. Zelensky said that there is no time left for him and for Ukraine, that he and his family are the prime target of Russian troops. He looked for me this morning, we had arranged a phone call at 9.30, but at that time it was no longer possible to trace him ». In response Zelensky had tweeted: «This morning at 10.30 at the entrances of Chernihiv, Hostomel and Melitopol there were heavy fighting. People have died. Next time I will try to move the war schedule to speak with Mario Draghi at a specific time. In the meantime, Ukraine continues to fight for her people ”.
Ukraine, Zelensky: “Germany and Hungary are brave on Swift. Russians, tell the government to stop”
A misunderstanding, but also a claim by the Ukrainian president for Italy that appeared soft in its approach to sanctions against Russia. Not only by Zelensky: Italy was accused by several institutions in Europe of having held back both on Russia’s ban on the Swift banking circuit and on the export of luxury goods. Denials by the Italian government and a turnaround by Foreign Minister Kuleba, then, this morning, the phone call told by Zelensky in the tweet. Within 24 hours, the “Italy case” was resolved. And relations relaxed.
Ukrainian old woman and the sunflower seeds given to a Russian soldier: “Put them in your pockets, they will grow in our land when you die”
The Draghi line, appeal to unity: “We are acting like the EU on sanctions”
ANNALISA CUZZOCREA
Kiev, building destroyed by a Russian missile: the images of the national emergency service
