- Ukraine's president celebrated his country's stubborn resistance and said 'Our people has become the army'
- Italian MPs heard Zelensky plead for more anti-Moscow measures: 'We need more sanctions, more pressure'
- He compared atrocities committed by Russian invaders, including rapes and kidnappings, to Nazi war crimes
- Rome responded with standing ovations either side of Zelensky's address - and support for Ukraine's EU bid
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is 'on the brink of surviving' its invasion by Moscow.
In a speech to the Italian parliament this morning, Zelensky begged the country's MPs to step up sanctions on the Russian economy, saying 'more pressure' can help Ukraine withstand the Kremlin assault.
Zelensky said he had also just spoken to Pope Francis, revealing the pontiff expressed solidarity with Ukraine's 'right to defend itself'.
Zelensky gave a 12-minute live video address to the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, highlighting the cruelty of the Russian invasion and comparing it to the Nazi occupation. Italian MPs gave Zelensky a standing ovation before and after the speech
In a live video address accompanied by a translator, Zelensky highlighted the brutality of Russia's invasion, saying torture, rape and kidnappings akin to the Nazi occupation had become common.
He said: 'For Russian troops, Ukraine is the gates of Europe, where they want to break in.
'But barbarism must not be allowed to pass.
'We are on the brink of survival.'
Zelensky said 117 Ukrainian children had been killed since Moscow first sent troops into the country on February 24.
Italy's government was criticised for dragging its heels on anti-Russia sanctions and opposing Moscow's expulsion from the Swift payments system - but PM Mario Draghi told Zelensky (pictured) he was in favour of Ukraine joining the EU
'The most terrible thing will be the famine that is approaching for some countries', he added.
'Ukraine has always been one of the largest food exporters, but how can we sow under the strikes of Russian artillery?'
Prime Minister Mario Draghi responded to the speech by confirming his support for Ukrainian entry to the European Union.
Draghi told MPs after Zelensky's speech: 'I want to say to President Zelensky that Italy is at Ukraine's side in this process.
Zelensky pleaded with policymakers to step up anti-Russia measures including sanctions, saying 'more pressure' would help Ukraine's fight against the Kremlin. But he also expressed optimism, saying Kyiv was 'on the brink of surviving' the invasion
'Italy wants Ukraine in the European Union.'
Draghi also celebrated the 'heroism' and 'dignity' of the Ukrainian people in contrast to the 'arrogance' of the Russian government.
Rome was previously criticised for dragging its heels on anti-Russia sanctions and opposing Moscow's expulsion from the Swift payments system.
Lengthy standing ovations came either side of Zelensky's twelve-minute speech.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10639491/Zelensky-told-Italian-MPs-Ukraine-brink-surviving-Russia-war-Rome-backed-EU-bid.html
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