Bilateral security agreement with Kyiv coming soon - Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 22 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday that Italy was close to signing a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, adding that the accord as of "political and symbolic" value as Kyiv continues to combat the Russian forces of invasion. "I considered it important and urgent to report to you on the negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities for a bilateral security cooperation agreement, which the premier is about to sign," Tajani told a combined session of the Lower House and Senate defence and foreign affairs committees.
    "I consider it my duty to give advance notice to parliament of the contents and key aspects of the ongoing discussions, which we hope to be able to bring to a successful conclusion in the coming days.
    "The value of this agreement with Kyiv is political and symbolic in order to give a clear message in favour of international law".
    Tajani said Italy was also supporting Ukraine's reconstruction, saying this will happen in two phases, one while the war is still ongoing and one after.
    The minister said the death in custody of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny had led to an "acceleration" in efforts to support Kyiv.
    "The dramatic death of Putin's opponent came just days from the second anniversary of Russia's unjustified and brutal aggression against Ukraine," Tajani said.
    "As you know, on my instructions, we summoned the Russian Ambassador to the foreign ministry in Rome yesterday.
    "And in Brussels on Monday I wanted to have, also as part of Italy's G7 duty presidency, a long conversation with (Navalny's widow) Yulia Navalnaya, who had participated in the European Foreign Affairs Council". (ANSA).