UPDATE - Italy will continue to support Ukraine, PM Draghi tells parliament

UPDATES WITH RESULT OF VOTE IN SENATE

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Tuesday that his government intends to keep supporting Ukraine as he addressed parliament ahead of this week's European Council meeting.

In a speech to the Italian Senate, Draghi reminded lawmakers that the government had already obtained a mandate to help Ukraine resist the Russian war launched in February, through a resolution that also includes providing military aid.

Later in the day, the Senate approved a majority-backed resolution confirming its support to the government's position on the Ukrainian war, with 219 votes in favor and 20 against it.

In recent weeks, some parties in the ruling coalition – namely the 5Star Movement and the League – have criticized the strategy of supplying weapons to Kyiv, asking for a more active commitment of the Italian government to reach a peace deal.

Draghi stressed that, four months after the start of the conflict, "new atrocities against civilians continue to come to light,” pledging that “the responsibilities will be established and the crimes punished."

The Cabinet headed by Draghi, however, is still facing internal turbulence, as the Five Stars risk a split over a row between Foreign Minister and former head Luigi Di Maio and former premier Giuseppe Conte, who currently leads the movement.

It is still unclear if a party split would also have consequences for the government’s stability, but Di Maio is expected to retain his ministerial post, while forming a new parliamentary group with other 5 Stars’ dissidents.

Last week, Draghi made a historic visit to Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. The four European leaders announced their support for granting Ukraine EU candidate status.