Official website of the President of Russia

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The Italian Prime Minister asked the Russian President, in particular, to share his opinion of his meetings during the APEC Summit in Beijing.

In addition, Vladimir Putin and Matteo Renzi exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, expressing concern over the growing tension in the country’s southeast.

The two leaders also briefly touched upon bilateral relations.

Matteo Renzi invited Vladimir Putin to visit the upcoming EXPO-2015 exhibition in Milan. The Russian President accepted the invitation.

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Beginning of meeting with Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr President.

I would like to recall my visit to Milan and thank you for your hospitality. There have not been many developments since then, but considering our relations, we always have something to talk about. I am very happy to have a separate meeting with you on the sidelines the G20 Summit.

Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President. I also believe that our meeting in Milan was important for all of us. In particular, it was important for relations between Europe and Asia, which are of a fundamental, strategic significance and should develop further. It was also our first meeting since I was appointed Prime Minister of Italy.

I hope that meeting helped us make headway on the issues that remain open between Russia and the European Union, particularly with regard to Ukraine.

I would like our further dialogue to continue in the spirit of our Milan meeting. I also hope that we will be able to meet during EXPO, which will also take place in Milan in May 2015.

In this connection, I would like to hear your opinion of the developments and the meetings that took place over the past weeks. I know you held important meetings within the APEC Summit in Beijing. I would like to hear what you think of the outcome of those events and your assessment of the developments in Ukraine and around it.

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