ROME (Sputnik) — The relations between the European Union and Russia depend on the crisis in Syria, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Tuesday.
"At the EU meeting we will discuss Syria, a crisis that defines relations between the European Union and Russia at a time of transition for the American administration," Gentiloni told parliament ahead of the summit of the European Union leaders in Brussels, slated for December 15.
Italy has recently taken a stance against the necessity to impose new sanctions against Russia, claiming it does not seek confrontation with it.
In October, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi brushed off the UK, German and French proposal made at the EU summit in Brussels for more sanctions against Russia. He said that the measures would not bring peace to Syria and would not change Russia's strategy in the conflict there.
