Agreement with United Russia no longer valid - League

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 2 - Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini's League party said Tuesday that the agreement it had with the United Russia party is no longer valid following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
    This week the Lower House is voting on an opposition no-confidence motion in Salvini over the League's links with the ruling party in Russia.
    "The war totally changed opinions and political relations with Russia, which, before the invasion, was an important interlocutor for all Italian governments," the League said.
    "As previously reiterated, the 2017 proposed collaboration between the League and United Russia is no longer valid after the invasion of Ukraine.
    "Even before that, there were no joint initiatives.
    "The League's position is confirmed by votes in Parliament.
    "It is regrettable that the House has to waste time on pointless polemics triggered by the opposition".
    Salvini has been under fire for saying that "a people is always right when it votes" following Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent re-election and for failing to blame Putin for the death in a Siberian prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
    Salvini has expressed admiration for Putin several times in the past, but he has also condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
    (ANSA).