Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani said Thursday that Italy was close to signing a
bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, adding that the
accord as of "political and symbolic" value as Kyiv continues to
combat the Russian forces of invasion.
"I considered it important and urgent to report to you on the
negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities for a bilateral
security cooperation agreement, which the premier is about to
sign," Tajani told a combined session of the Lower House and
Senate defence and foreign affairs committees.
"I consider it my duty to give advance notice to parliament of
the contents and key aspects of the ongoing discussions, which
we hope to be able to bring to a successful conclusion in the
coming days.
"The value of this agreement with Kyiv is political and symbolic
in order to give a clear message in favour of international
law".
Tajani said Italy was also supporting Ukraine's reconstruction,
saying this will happen in two phases, one while the war is
still ongoing and one after.
The minister said the death in custody of Russian opposition
leader Aleksei Navalny had led to an "acceleration" in efforts
to support Kyiv.
"The dramatic death of Putin's opponent came just days from the
second anniversary of Russia's unjustified and brutal aggression
against Ukraine," Tajani said.
"As you know, on my instructions, we summoned the Russian
Ambassador to the foreign ministry in Rome yesterday.
"And in Brussels on Monday I wanted to have, also as part of
Italy's G7 duty presidency, a long conversation with (Navalny's
widow) Yulia Navalnaya, who had participated in the European
Foreign Affairs Council".
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