Russia's military onslaught in Ukraine, giving fresh impetus to European Union enlargement, refugees and stability of the Balkans were at the centre of phone talks Friday between Luigi Di Maio and his Bulgarian counterpart, Teodora Genchovska.
"Focus on Russian aggression towards Ukraine and on EU enlargement. Italy is strongly committed to: cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and support for refugees; Western Balkans’ stability and re-energizing EU enlargement process," the foreign ministry tweeted.
Over three million people have fled the fighting in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion on 24 February. The EU has granted Ukrainians who flee the right to stay, work and receive social benefits for three years. Ukraine has applied to join the EU, a process that is expected to take many years.
