Italy backs efforts by France, which currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, to mediate in Russia's intensifying war on Ukraine, Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Thursday.
"There are talks taking place between the two sides and also an attempt at EU mediation through the rotating presidency represented today by (France's president Emmanuel) Macron," Di Maio told La7 TV channel
"This is a route we must not stop going down," Di Maio underlined.
In a 90-minute phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday - their third since Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago - Macron is said to have told Putin he is making "a major mistake", that his views don't correspond with reality, and that Russia will pay a heavy long-term price.
During their phone talks, Putin is said to have told Macron he "wanted to seize control of the whole of Ukraine and carry out his operation to 'de-Nazify' Ukraine to the end, according to Macron's aides.
Macron later tweeted that Putin had refused to stop his attacks on Ukraine, which began on 24 February.
"It is vital to maintain dialogue to avoid human tragedy. I will continue my efforts and contacts," read the tweet.
"We must avoid the worst," Macron's tweet added.
