NEW YORK/ROME, AUGUST 24 – On Ukraine Independence Day, which also marks the six months anniversary since the Russian invasion, Italy stands up with Ukraine. Along with over 50 countries, Italy signed a joint statement calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
The statement defines Russia’s attack since February 24 as “unprovoked, full-scale, and illegal”. The 54 countries and the European Union recall the UN General Assembly’s “resounding conclusions” that the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine “is a violation of the UN Charter” that impacts not only the people of Ukraine, but millions of people around the world.
“All States have an obligation under Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means. No territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as lawful. We call upon the Russian Federation to stop its total disregard for its obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law and international human rights law”, reads the statement reaffirming solidarity with the people of Ukraine, paying tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives for the independence of Ukraine and expressing deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
In a further sign of solidarity monuments in Italy, including Palazzo Chigi (the headquarters of the Italian Prime Minister) in Rome and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence lit up in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian’s flag. “As Russia attempts to subjugate more parts of Ukrainian territory, the international community cannot look away. Russia must stop its illegal occupation, its brutal targeting of unnamed civilians”, said Prime Minister Mario Draghi. In. New York, the Permanent Representative to the UN, Maurizio Massari, took on Twitter to mark the Independence Day “to all our Ukrainian friends, to the millions fighting and the millions forced to flee over the six months of Russia’s unprovoked war. Italy stands by your side”, said Massari. (@OnuItalia)
