(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 22 - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday thanked Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio for Italy's support for Kyiv against the Russian invasion after the Italian foreign minister formed a new breakaway party over his defence of further Italian arms supplies to Kyiv.
    "I'm grateful to Luigi Di Maio for his integrity," Kuleba said a day after the Italian foreign minister split from his formerly anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) to form his new party, Together for the Future (IPF), after disagreements over sending further military aid to Ukraine.
    "Italy has chosen the right side of history: supporting Ukraine is the only way to bring peace closer in Europe.
    "Denying Ukraine support would encourage Russia to continue the war and expand it beyond Ukraine's borders".
    Di Maio split with the M5S over leader Giuseppe Conte's call to end military aid to Ukraine arguing it prolongs the war and the country's suffering.
    The foreign minister said Conte's stance against sending more arms jeopardized Italy's pro-NATO and pro-EU position. (ANSA).