Russian, Italian Foreign Ministers to Discuss EU Relations Monday

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss Moscow's relations with the European Union and NATO, as well as bilateral cooperation, with his Italian counterpart early next week, Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

MOSCOW, May 30 (Sputnik) — Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni is due to arrive in Moscow for talks with Lavrov on Monday, according to the ministry's website.

"The main objective is to continue a substantive discussion of pressing international politics and security issues, as well as to explore further development of Russian-Italian cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.

The two diplomats are expected to focus their attention on means of facilitating the Ukrainian conflict settlement in addition to the Minsk deal reached on February 12.

"Lavrov and Gentiloni will also address other important foreign policy issues, including the situation in Libya, Syria, Iran's nuclear program, as well as Russia's relations with the EU and NATO," the statement continues.