'We are on the brink of survival,' Ukrainian president tells Italian parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the Italian parliament on Tuesday that his country was on the brink of surviving its war with Russian forces that he warned wanted to break through to the rest of Europe.

"For Russian troops, Ukraine is the gates of Europe, where they want to break in, but barbarism must not be allowed to pass," he said.

"The most terrible thing will be the famine that is approaching for some countries. Ukraine has always been one of the largest food exporters, but how can we sow (crops) under the strikes of Russian artillery?"

Countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen and others have come to rely on Ukrainian wheat in recent years and the war has caused wheat prices to skyrocket - rising by 50% in the last month. read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the war, the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two, a "special military operation" to disarm Ukraine and protect it from "Nazis". The West calls that a false pretext for an unprovoked war of aggression.

Replying to Zelenskiy, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that Ukraine had offered "heroic" resistance to the Russian invasion and promised continued support for refugees fleeing the fighting, as well as military aid.

"The arrogance of the Russian government has collided with the dignity of the Ukrainian people, who have managed to curb Moscow's expansionist aims and impose a huge cost on the invading army," Draghi told parliament.

Signalling its desire to strengthen ties with the West, Ukraine has long said it wants to join the European Union.

Draghi told lawmakers that this was a lengthy process because of the many reforms needed to integrate fully with the 27-nation bloc.

"I want to say to President Zelenskiy that Italy is at Ukraine's side in this process. Italy wants Ukraine in the European Union," Draghi said.