President Zelensky says Italy must stop being ‘a resort for murderers’ and ban Russian ships from its ports as he tells lawmakers in video address that Ukraine is ‘on the brink of surviving’ its war

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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Italy must stop being 'a resort for murderers' and urged the country to ban Russian ships from its ports as he told lawmakers in a video address this morning that Ukraine is 'on the brink of surviving' its war.

In a speech to the Italian parliament this morning, Zelensky urged the country's MPs to freeze all assets belonging to the Russian elite and to declare a full trade embargo, starting with oil.

He said: 'You know very well who orders troops to go to war and who propagates this. Almost all of them use Italy as a place to rest. Do not be a resort for murderers.

'Freeze all their property, accounts and yachts. Freeze all the assets of those who have influence, let them use it for peace. Support sanctions against Russia, a full trade embargo, starting with oil.'

He also asked Italy to remove enemy troops from Ukraine and to help carry out the de-mining and reconstruction of the country 'after this war'.  

'Together with you, together with Italy. Together with Europe. Together - in the European Union,' he added.

He also 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 the 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.