Italian Deputies Reject Resolutions to Cancel Anti-Russian Sanctions

The Italian Parliament's Chamber of Deputies disapproved the draft resolutions, which voiced dissent to prolongation of the EU sanctions against Russia.

ROME (Sputnik) — The Italian Parliament's Chamber of Deputies voted on Monday against the draft resolutions tabled by the opposition parties Lega Nord and Five Star Movement, which voiced dissent to prolongation of the EU sanctions against Russia.

Following Italian Prime Minister Mateo Renzi's remarks at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Rome would oppose the automatic prolongation of the EU sanctions, the documents urged the Italian government to promote initiatives within the European Union aimed at lifting sanctions against Russia.

Earlier in the day, the draft resolutions disapproved by the Italian government, were rejected by the Senate, the parliament's upper chamber.

Since 2014, the United States and European Union have introduced several rounds of sanctions targeting Russian individuals and key sectors of its economy. The sanctions were initially imposed in response to Crimea becoming part of Russia and Western allegations of Russian involvement in the Ukraine crisis.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.