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Russian President Vladimir Putin has massed more than 150,000
troops near Ukraine's borders, according to U.S. estimates, and
has signed a decree on the deployment of troops in the breakaway
Donetsk and Luhansk enclaves.
The prolonged crisis has battered Ukrainian output and Di Maio
said the government was ready to set aside 110 million euros
($124.75 million) to support "the Ukrainian population and
economy in areas to be agreed with the Kiev authorities".
Amongst the "non-lethal" material Italy was planning to dispatch
to the Ukranian armed forces was demining equipment, the
minister said.
Di Maio also told lawmakers that Italy would work to limit "as
much as possible" the impact on its economy and strategic
interests of any sanctions imposed on Russia by the West.
Italy sources around 40% of its gas from Russia and Prime
Minister Mario Draghi said last week that any sanctions should
not include energy.
A first, limited round of European Union sanctions on Russia
will take effect on Wednesday, blacklisting more politicians and
banning trade between the EU and the two breakaway regions in
eastern Ukraine.
"We want to pursue any diplomatic initiative that could avoid
war. We believe it is still possible, even if the chances are
narrowing day by day," Di Maio said. ($1 = 0.8818 euros)
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
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