Italy gives Ukraine weapons to repel Russian aggression

That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

Draghi also condemned Russia for putting its nuclear deterrent on high alert, telling parliament this amounted to blackmail.

It is noted that the United States, Britain, Europe and Canada imposed a wave of punishing sanctions on Russia in the wake of the military action, and Draghi said more could be in the offing.

"In particular, I have proposed further targeted measures against the oligarchs. The idea is to create a public international register of those with assets over 10 million euros ($11.2 million)," Draghi said.

He said he wanted to intensify pressure on the Russian Central Bank, adding that the Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements should participate in the sanctions.

Draghi said it was vital Europe did not let Russian aggression win and asked parliament to approve government plans to send weapons to Ukraine to help it defend itself.

The Senate overwhelmingly supported the proposal, with 244 votes in favor and 13 against -- rare backing in Italy for the export of arms to an active war zone.

A diplomatic source said among the weapons likely to be sent were Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and heavy machine guns.

"The heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people, of its president (Volodymyr) Zelensky, confronts us with a new reality and forces us to make choices that were unthinkable just a few months ago," he said.