Italy "is fully aligned" with the European Union and supports its proposed fifth round of sanctions against Russia over its almost-six-week-old war in Ukraine, premier Mario Draghi has stated.
"Italy is fully aligned with the rest of the EU and supports with conviction the restrictive measures presented by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen," Draghi said during a visit to Turin on Tuesday.
"Italy and EU support the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for peace and freedom," Draghi underlined.
Von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled new sanctions against Russia that would include measures to ban coal imports (the first time the EU has targeted Russia’s energy exports) and ones to stop Russian vessels from entering EU ports.
The new EU sanctions package will also include a full transaction ban on four Russian banks to "further weaken Russia's financial system," von der Leyen said in a statement.
