Italian PM Talks With Indian PM, Strengthens Cooperation To Ukrainian Peace Coverage

JAKARTA - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised his country's "extraordinary" relationship with India in a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a phone call, Wednesday, September 10, Meloni and Modi welcomed "an excellent bilateral relationship condition" and reaffirmed a joint commitment to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and connectivity, the Italian prime minister's office said in a statement.

The two leaders also discussed Ukraine, saying support for all international efforts to push for a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.

As Europe and the US avoided Russian oil from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India has taken advantage of Russia's production discounts to become the largest Russian crude oil buyer.

India has confirmed it will continue to buy Russian oil because it is proven economical, although the Trump administration has decided to impose a high import rate on Indian goods.

According to officials, US President Donald Trump urged the European Union this week to impose new import duties on China and India as part of a strategy to pressure Russia, the main supplier of oil for the two countries.