On May 26, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Pavlo Klimkin met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy Mr. Paolo Gentiloni during his visit to Rome.

In the context of implementation of Minsk agreements, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informed his counterpart of repeated violations of cease-fire and shelling of Ukrainian armed forces and civil settlements by pro-Russian militants and Russian military units. In his turn, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy confirmed the readiness of the Government of Italy continue EU sanctions on Russia until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. He also offered further political support to Ukraine and marked on importance of serious structural reforms in our country.

The parties confirmed their intention to resume Ukrainian-Italian Council on Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation and to hold its next meeting in October this year.

With regards to the prospects for ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement by the Italian Parliament the Italian side assured that this issue would be considered and voted on in the Parliament within the next month.