Press release on Russian-Italian talks on preparations for the meeting of the Russian and Italian foreign and defence ministers

On October 11, talks were held in Rome on preparations for the meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of the Russian Federation and the Italian Republic in the two-plus-two format. The Russian side at the talks was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Sergey Khabibullin, head of the International Contract Department at the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defence.  

The negotiations parties discussed several current issues of bilateral cooperation, strategic stability, European security, non-proliferation and arms control, as well as relations between Russia and the EU and NATO. They thoroughly reviewed regional matters, including the situation in Syria, Libya and Venezuela, and noted the importance of consistent efforts to implement the Minsk Package of Measures to overcome the conflict in Ukraine.