Prime Minister Mario Draghi had a telephone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin this morning.
At the center of the talks the Ukrainian crisis and its latest developments, as well as bilateral relations between Italy and Russia.
Draghi stressed to Putin the need to work towards a de-escalation of tensions, reminding him of the serious consequences that a further worsening of the crisis would have. The two agreed on a common commitment for a sustainable and "lasting" solution to the affair, in addition to the need to rebuild a mutual climate of trust.
But immediately after Moscow made it known, with a statement from the Russian embassy in Washington, that it will not back down in the face of US threats: “We will not back down and we will stand at attention, listening to the threats of US sanctions. It is Washington and not Moscow that is generating tensions ”.
In the phone call with Draghi, Putin also confirmed Moscow's intention to "continue to support stable gas supplies to Italy", the Kremlin said, quoted by the Tass agency.
(Unioneonline / L)
