Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Italy Supports “Ukrainian Membership” of European Union


Mon 07 Mar 2022 | 06:30 PM
Omnia Ahmed

Italy's prime minister urged, on Monday, the European Union countries to move swiftly on sanctions against Russia, stressing full support for the Ukrainian membership of the European family.

"And now we have to act, all of us, with speed on this point," Mario Draghi told reporters.

Following his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Draghi said Italy, France and Germany were swiftly implementing sanctions against Russian oligarchs, while "others less so". He didn't give further details.

"We don't rule out more sanctions, but we didn't discuss this (with von der Leyen)," Draghi said.

In the same vein, the former European Central Bank chief said he believed Russia’s aim was “to carry on until the country (Ukraine) has surrendered, probably set up a friendly government and defeat the resistance, that is what the facts show.”

Moreover, he affirmed that Italy has no objections to Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union, but added that this is a long procedure that usually needs deep reforms.

“We support Ukrainian membership of the European family,” he said.