Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Thursday arrived in Rome for a one-day visit to the Italian
capital.
His first appointment was at the Vatican where he saw Pope
Francis.
Later in the day he saw President Sergio Mattarella at the
presidential palace and in the late afternoon saw Premier
Giuseppe Conte at the premier's office.
Italy is in favour of lifting western sanctions against
Russia, imposed for its intervention in Crimea and eastern
Ukraine.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera ahead of the visit
Putin spoke of "tried and tested" ties with Italy and said he
was ready to restart dialogue on a broad strategic agenda with
the United States.
This evening there will be a dinner at Villa Madama with
deputy premiers Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.
They are the leaders of the two populist parties making up
the government, Di Maio's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S) and Salvini's nationalist League party.
Salvini, who has outstripped Di Maio in the polls with
anti-migrant and other hardline stances, has frequently voiced
admiration for Putin and has more strongly than others
advocated the dropping of western sanctions.
Finally, Putin will have a private meeting with Silvio
Berlusconi, an old friend and mutual admirer.
Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov as
well as the trade, energy, culture and health ministers.
Putin arrived in the Vatican for the audience with Pope
Francis, his third, shortly after two o'clcok local - over an
hour behind schedule.
The previous audiences with Francis were on November 25 2013
and June 10, 2015.
Putin has had six audiences with three popes in 19 years.
Putin was welcomed to the Vatican by the pope with a warm
handshake.
Putin said on leaving Francis "thank you for the time you
devoted to me and for the very substantial and interesting
talks" while Francis told him "pray for me".
After presenting his delegation and exchanging gifts with the
pope, Putin and his entourage also had talks with Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin and Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher,
secretary for relations with States.
He then left the Vatican for the Quirinal Palace where he was
met by Mattarella.
Putin was again over an hour behind schedule, which is
nothing new for the Russian president.
In the past he has kept US President Donald Trump, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Queen Elizabeth of England waiting
for some time.
However he recently arrived 30 minutes early for talks with
North Korean President Kim Jong-un.
Putin arrived at the Italian premier's office for bilateral
talks with Conte shortly before six o'clock.
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