MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia plays a major role in resolving international problems, so Western countries should not isolate Moscow, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told the Japanese Nikkei newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.
Russia is an important partner in countering the Islamic State (ISIL) extremist group, he said.
Dialogue with Moscow is vital, despite the deterioration in relations between the United States, the European Union and Russia over the Ukrainian crisis, Renzi added.
During his meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier in the week, Renzi stressed the importance of involving Russia in discussions on global and regional issues.
The European Union, the United States and their allies introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. The claims have been repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.
