MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Scheduled meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will give a positive impetus to the bilateral relations, Russian Ambassador to Italy Sergei Razov said Thursday.
"The expected meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will provide an important new political impetus to the development of our bilateral relations at all levels," Razov said as quoted by askanews.
He added that the relations between Russia and Italy were developing despite the complicated environment of anti-Russia sanctions imposed by the European Union.
The 2016 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is being organized under the auspices of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is due to take place on June 16-18. The forum is organized annually and attended by business representatives and officials from dozens of countries.