Ukraine: Italian parties unanimous in condemning Russia

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 24 - Italy's main political parties on Thursday were unanimous in condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, including groups that have adopted stances sympathetic to Moscow in the past.
    The Senate whips of the centre-left Democratic Party, the 5-Star Movement (M5S), the League, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI), the left-wing LeU group and the opposition, right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party all condemned the aggression and called on Premier Mario Draghi to report to parliament on the crisis as soon as possible.
    Draghi is set to report to parliament on Friday, government sources said.
    "The League condemns all military aggression," said League leader Matteo Salvini.
    "The hope is for an immediate stop to the violence.
    "Support for Draghi for a common response from the allies".
    FdI leader Giorgia Meloni said via Facebook that the "large-scale" attack was "unacceptable" and took Europe back "to a past that we hoped we would not experience again.
    "It is time to choose sides," she said.
    "The West and the international community are united in adopting every useful measure to support Kiev and the respect of international law".
    Defence Minister and senior PD member Lorenzo Guerini said it was an "extremely serious attack on a sovereign state and on the fundamental principles of international law.
    "The international community must respond in a firm, cohesive manner," he added. (ANSA).