(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 30 - Premier Mario Draghi on Wednesday told Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone that a ceasefire in Ukraine should be set as soon as possible, the premier's office said.
    It said Draghi had underscored the importance of establishing a ceasefire as soon as possible in order to protect the civilian population and support negotiating efforts.
    The Italian premier also reaffirmed the Italian government's willingness to contribute to the peace process, in the presence of clear signs of de-escalation on Russia's part, the office said.
    The two leaders agreed on the need to keep in touch on the situation, it said.
    The Kremlin said Putin reported to Draghi on developments in Tuesday's negotiations in Istanbul between Moscow and Kyiv delegations and on Moscow's request to get gas supply payments in roubles.
    Before the one-hour phone conversation Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Rome had recognised "the diplomatic steps taken" after Moscow promised to de-escalate military activity around Kyiv following its invasion of Ukraine.
    But he added that "we will assess the Russian announcements on the basis of the deeds", warning against "delusions".
    Draghi is set to press ahead with his plan to raise Italy's defence spending to 2% of GDP, in line with its NATO commitments, despite the opposition of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), sources said after he had talks with M5S leader Giuseppe Conte and President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday.
    Draghi told ex-premier Conte that the country's international commitments could not be thrown into doubt at "such a delicate time" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adding that, if this were to happen, the pact that holds together the broad coalition of his national unity government would disintegrate, the sources said.
    After meeting Conte, Draghi had talks with Mattarella, who backed the premier's position, sources said.
    "I haven't caused a crisis of government," Conte told La7 television.
    "All I say is that, if we have to plan military spending, a party of the ruling majority can have a say about the time frame".
    On Thursday the Senate is set to vote on the government's decree with measures linked to the effects of the Ukraine war and a motion by the opposition Brothers of Italy (FdI) party about taking defence spending up to the 2% threshold.
    Conte, however, said Wednesday that the M5S does not "intend to take any steps backwards" and reposted a statement by the movement that said "a new arms race is unthinkable at the moment".
    The statement said Draghi's plan to increase defence spending by 12-15 billion euros within two years was "outside reality", arguing the 2% target should be reached by a longer period, such as by 2030.
    It said that defence spending had increased by around one billion euros a year during the two government led by Conte between 2018 and 2021.
    Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini, a member of the centre-left Democratic Party, told ANSA on Wednesday that Italy was on course to reach the 2% target by 2028 of it continues to increase defence spending at the current rate.
    M5S sources said this went a long way towards addressing their concerns. (ANSA).