MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The cooperation of Russia and the West in the fighting against the Islamic State (ISIL) militant group is incompatible with the anti-Russia sanctions, Italian lawmaker Pier Ferdinando Casini said Sunday.
"This contradiction must be overcome. I hope that the clear obligations of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin with respect to ISIL will open doors to put an end to disagreements over Ukraine and make sanctions history," Casini told Il Matino newspaper.
The politician stressed that it was impossible to create a new world order without Russia.
The European Union and its allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since 2014, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. The claims have been repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.
In response, Moscow has imposed an embargo on food imports from the countries that sanctioned it in retaliation.
Since September 30, Russia has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL radicals in Syria at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while a US-led international coalition has been targeting ISIL positions in the country without the permission of Damascus or the United Nations.
