Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union.

"In recent weeks, it has been emphasized that the process of joining the European Union is a long one and consists of reforms necessary to ensure a functioning integration. I want to tell President Zelensky that Italy is in this process next to Ukraine. Italy wants Ukraine to join the European Union," Draghi said after a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Italian Parliament on Tuesday.

He stressed that from the very beginning of the war, Italy admired the courage, determination and patriotism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the citizens of Ukraine.

"Today, Ukraine is not just defending itself. It is defending our peace, our freedom, our security. It is defending this multilateral order based on the rules and rights that we painstakingly created after the war. Italy is deeply grateful to you," Draghi said.

According to him, since the beginning of the war, Italy has received more than 60,000 refugees from Ukraine, mostly women and minors. Draghi assured that Italy will continue to do so thanks to the tireless work and high professionalism of the regions, municipalities, civil protection, religious organizations, and all volunteers.