Italy backs Ukraine's "completely legitimate" wish to join the European Union, which is giving the war-hit former Soviet republic "concrete support", foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Wednesday.
"We view Kyiv's aspirations as completely legitimate and worthy of consideration, clearly in accordance with the standards and procedures required by European law," Di Maio said.
"Meanwhile, we are showing concrete European support to Ukraine with the approval of assistance under the European Peace Facility," he added, referring to an EU financing instrument that can be used to provide military aid.
In a move the bloc described as a “watershed moment” in its history, the EU agreed on 27 February to provide some 500 million euros in arms and other aid to Ukraine's army as it battles the full-scale offensive unleashed by Russia on 24 February.
