RTTue, 08 Nov 2016 19:47 UTC
© Vladimir Sergeev / Sputnik
. Italy has been opposing anti-Russian sanctions, calling them counterproductive.
"As for cars, clothing and furniture, there are no imports restrictions. The restrictions apply to agricultural products. They're probably quite significant," Ulyukaev said.
"But this is not our choice. The best solution is to mutually waive these limitations, we would welcome it, but unfortunately our partners - including the European partners - are not showing goodwill here," he added.
Italian businesses have been seeking ways to continue delivering their products to the Russian market despite the restrictions. For example, investors from Italy plan to build a buffalo farm and a mozzarella production plant in Crimea, aiming to put €300 million (US$337 million) into the enterprises.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi openly criticized anti-Russian sanctions at an EU summit in October and spoke against their expansion.
"We should do everything possible for a peace deal in Syria, but it's difficult to imagine that this should be linked to further sanctions on Russia," Renzi said, as cited by Reuters.
In July, the Italian province of Tuscany unanimously backed a resolution urging the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. The region followed footsteps of Lombardy, Veneto and Liguria, who have acknowledged right for self-determination of the people of Crimea, who voted to leave Ukraine and reunite with Russia in 2014.
Trade relations between Russia and the EU have significantly deteriorated since 2014, when Europe accused the Kremlin of fueling the Ukrainian crisis and imposed several rounds of sanctions. The restrictions targeted Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors. In response, Russia imposed a food embargo targeting countries that joined anti-Russian sanctions.
Comment: EU's dialogue with Russia should be 'correct and pragmatic' - Italian FM
© Vladimir Sergeev / Sputnik
Russia is "a large and important neighbor of the EU," and it's necessary for the bloc to hold a "correct and pragmatic" dialogue with Moscow, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said while on a visit to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
Gentiloni also touched upon the situation with the upcoming presidential elections in the US, saying that whoever wins should not change their predecessor's policy regarding Russia, which means staying "firm," but "open for a two-way dialogue."
"On the one hand we should stand on our principles, provide safety for our allies and prevent Moscow from taking actions that can't be justified. On the other hand, we can't go back to the Cold War rhetoric and should stand for diplomatic communication with Russia, maintain economic relations and avoid aggression," Gentiloni told a press conference, according to TASS news agency.
Recently, journalist Gian Micalessin of the Italian newspaper Il Giornale remarked in a column that Russia was among the few countries that, unlike the EU, has lent a helping hand to Italy, which is struggling to recover from a powerful earthquake that struck the country's central region.
© Axel Schmidt / ReutersItalian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni
About 15,000 people were left without electricity or drinking water, while thousands of homes were destroyed. Roads were severely damaged as well, with only emergency vehicles able to reach the area.
Despite the overall harsh rhetoric towards Russia within the EU, Italy has been calling for dialogue, with as many as four legislative assemblies of Italian provinces urging the lifting of EU sanctions. In June, the Upper House of the Italian Parliament adopted a resolution opposing the automatic renewal of sanctions against Russia.
Comment: EU's dialogue with Russia should be 'correct and pragmatic' - Italian FM