(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 4 - Italy is backing Ukraine's bid to join the European Union, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a long phone call Wednesday morning.
"Premier (Mario) Draghi yesterday clearly illustrated Italy's line in the European Parliament: we want Ukraine to join the EU, we won't look the other way, and we will continue to support you," he said.
Di Maio added: "We are ready to take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine, destroyed by the insane Russian war".
The two FMs reaffirmed that relations between their two countries had never been so strong.
Kuleba thanked Di Maio for the sanctions and arms Italy has approved in the Ukraine war.
Kuleba thanked Di Maio for "Italy's leadership on sanctions" on Russia, "including the oil embargo, and the shipments of arms to Ukraine".
In their cordial phone conversation, the two ministers also discussed security guarantees for Kyiv, Kuleba said on Twitter.
(ANSA).