Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, had a telephone conversation with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
In reaffirming Italy’s firm condemnation for Russia’s unjustified and unacceptable aggression against Ukraine as well as for the latest atrocious attacks against civilians, Minister Di Maio confirmed that the Euro-Atlantic community is united in imposing extremely heavy sanctions on the Russian Government to induce it to immediately cease the hostilities. At the same time, Di Maio stressed the need to continue all possible efforts to find a shared and sustainable diplomatic solution capable of protecting Ukraine’s full sovereignty on the international scenario. Minister Di Maio reaffirmed to his Ukrainian counterpart that Italy will not fail to continue giving Ukraine its convinced support in the ongoing conflict within the European Union and NATO.
The Minister also reaffirmed Italy’s most profound solidarity and closeness to the Ukrainian people and its commitment to assist Kiev and the neighbouring Countries in tackling the most serious humanitarian catastrophe in Europe since post World War II period. It is a commitment that Italy brings forward through the 110-million-euro financial aid given to the Ukrainian Government to support their budget, an overall contribution of more than 25 million euros in response to the calls for humanitarian aid launched by the United Nations and the International Red Cross Movement, and through the donation of relief supplies both for the people who remained in the Country and for the refugees in Moldova. Over 40 tons of humanitarian supplies have been dispatched to date. Moreover, through the Migration Fund, the Farnesina has outlined a first 10-million-euro-intervention with UNHCR focused on meeting the needs of minors and protecting the frailest refugees who have found shelter in Moldova.