Rome is ready for new steps to increase cooperation with Russia, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Mayo said.
“We are ready for strategic new steps within the European Union to strengthen cooperation with Moscow on all topics of interest to Europe. I am talking in this case about the environment, international trade, security, healthcare. Therefore, these issues should be discussed regardless of how the situation in resolving the Ukrainian crisis develops”, – he said after negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
On Tuesday, Lavrov and Shoigu held talks with their Italian counterparts in the 2+2 format in Rome. The last time the ministers held consultations in this format was almost seven years ago – in August 2013.