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Italy will keep up its efforts to obtain a humanitarian truce in Ukraine leading to a lasting peace settlement, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio tweeted on Monday.

Premier Mario Draghi has expressed solidarity with Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio over the death threats made against him for his criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine and also backed his efforts for peace.

Italy views its partnership with Serbia as "important" and wants to further strengthen bilateral ties, also to boost the stability of the Balkans region, the foreign ministry tweeted on Monday.

Extremists backing Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine have issued death threats to Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio over his strong criticism of the war and alleged crimes against civilians by Russian forces.

Tough sanctions imposed on Russia since it launched a devastating invasion of Ukraine last month are "highly effective" and must be kept up, Italy's premier Mario Draghi and Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed Thursday in phone talks.

Italy has announced an extra 50 million euros of aid for crisis-hit Afghanistan after it gave 150 million euros last year, the foreign ministry tweeted on Thursday.

Italy is willing to help achieve a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible" and to aid the peace process, provided Russia shows "clear signs of de-escalation", premier Mario Draghi has told Vladimir Putin.

A friends of Moldova meeting will take place in Berlin next week, Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Wednesday, noting that the large number of refugees it has been hosting since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February has put huge pressure on its economy.

Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio is talking part in the Energy Transition Dialogue conference in Berlin through Wednesday, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

During a visit to Naples on Tuesday, Italy's premier Mario Draghi met a group of refugees from war-wracked Ukraine who are being helped by volunteers from the Community of Saint Gennaro Foundation, Draghi's office said in a statement.

Premier Mario Dragh has reaffirmed to Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky Italy's "strong support" for his war-wracked country and "full readiness" to help international efforts towards a "lasting solution" to the conflict with Russia.

A total 186 Italian citizens are still in Ukraine, out of 2,000 living in the country before Russia's full-scale military offensive began on 24 February, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday.

Russia's war on Ukraine, Libya and the fight against terrorism were set to be the focus of talks in Washington between Italy's foreign ministry secretary-general, Ettore Sequi, and senior US government officials, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Italy backs the implemention of the international sanctions against Russia to obtain a ceasefire in its month-old war in Ukraine and all-out diplomatic efforts towards an end to the conflict, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Italy's top diplomat Luigi Di Maio was a signatory of a statement on Friday by G7 foreign ministers that "strongly condemned" North Korea's latest test of a banned long-range missile described as a 'monster missile' by analysts.

Citizens who take up arms to defend Ukraine from Russia's month-old military onslaught face criminal charges under Italian law, the foreign ministry warned on Thursday.

As part of international diplomatic efforts, Italy is "working determinedly" towards a ceasefire in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Italy's premier Mario Draghi said on Wednesday.

Around 70,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Italy since Russia launched its devastating invasion of Ukraine four weeks ago, the country's ambassador, Yaroslav Melnyk, said on Wednesday.

Russia's war against Ukraine was at the centre of talks on Tuesday in Rome between foreign minister Luigi Di Maio and his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib.

Premier Mario Draghi has voiced support for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union in remarks to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who on Tuesday urged Italy to do its utmost to stop Russia's devastating war.