Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. File photoROME, Jan 20Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio held telephone conversations with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday, during which the «Russian-Ukrainian dossier» was discussed, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. During the conversation with Blinken, the Italian the Minister expressed satisfaction with the common approach of both countries to this problem «in the light of the shared priority to keep the channel of dialogue open with Moscow, but with respect for Euro-Atlantic values and principles.» Di Maio reaffirmed the relevance of continuing efforts to launch the process of political negotiations with Moscow after meeting of the Russia-NATO Council held last week and emphasized the need to ensure coordination between the allies for this purpose to develop a unified, balanced and proportional response that would eliminate further tension between Russia and Ukraine,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Di Maio also noted the importance pos constant coordination of positions between the US and the EU on this dossier. During a telephone conversation with Le Drian, the Italian Foreign Minister «expressed concern over the developments on the border between Russia and Ukraine in recent weeks and reaffirmed the hope that all parties will continue their efforts to promote a diplomatic solution by committing itself to a process of constructive political dialogue». rejected accusations by the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», stating that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and claims of «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. At the same time, Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» sides of Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not bother anyone.
