Renzi in talks with Kiev, Moscow

(ANSA) - Rome, March 4 - Italian Premier Matteo Renzi traveled to Kiev Wednesday to discuss the Minsk ceasefire agreement with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The Minsk protocol between Russia and Ukraine was brokered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande in Moscow in January. It calls for a ceasefire and Constitutional reforms to ensure the rights of people in eastern Ukraine are respected. Kiev forces have been engaged in a bloody conflict with pro-Russia separatist rebels in its eastern regions since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March last year. "The situation in Ukraine is calmer but there are violations," EU Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. Implementation of the Minsk protocol "has not been totally positive nor totally negative," she added. The protocol must lead to an "absolute" ceasefire to be monitored by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Poroshenko said after talks with Renzi.
    "I want to thank Italy for the stance expressed by Renzi of very firm and strong support for Ukraine," he added. For his part, the Italian premier said that "we want respect for the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine". He said the international community was "totally" pushing for "peace to return to this extraordinary piece of our Europe". Renzi added "we will make every effort to ensure the Minsk accords can become fully implemented and effective". The aim, he said, "is a ceasefire and border monitoring.
    The OSCE mission is very important, and Italy has sent the second-largest group involved". As well, Renzi said Italy will do everything it can to support Ukraine's economic recovery. "The economic issue was stressed...in yesterday's conference call," Renzi said. "Ukraine must start growing again and we will do everything possible with companies and banks to provide its recovery with maximum support". The two leaders discussed a possible escalation of sanctions against Russia, a Poroshenko spokesman tweeted after the bilateral meeting. Western nations have imposed sanctions on Moscow over its alleged involvement with rebel forces fighting the army in Ukraine. Also on Wednesday, Poroshenko said in a Twitter post that he has asked Renzi to mediate with Moscow for the release of a Ukrainian military pilot who is on a hunger strike in a Russian prison. Ukraine is requesting Nadia Savchenko, who was captured by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine last June and was handed over to Russia.
    She has been charged her with the murders of two journalists and has been on a hunger strike for 81 days, becoming the subject of an intense social media campaign for her release.
    After his meeting with Poroshenko, Renzi flew Moscow to hold talks Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to pay his respects to slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.