Italy says allies ready to ramp up anti-Russia measures to 'increase Moscow's isolation'

United States, European Union (EU) leaders and NATO reached a “broad consensus” to ramp up measures against Moscow amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to official release by Italian government, Prime Minister Mario Draghi held a fresh video conference on Tuesday with leaders of or countries as Moscow-Kyiv war entered 56th day. 

All leaders including US President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg raised “strong concern” over continuation of military offensive in Ukraine by Russian forces while also calling for a ceasefire “as soon as possible”. All of m “confirmed importance of close coordination on supporting Ukraine in all its dimensions, with particular regard to contribution to country's budget.” 

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel and leaders of Canada, Italy, Romania and Poland took part in meeting along with Biden, Stoltenberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In a bid to increase Russia’s ‘isolation’, Italian PM’s office said in a statement, “Broad consensus was expressed on need to step up pressure on Kremlin, including through adoption of furr sanctions, and to increase Moscow's international isolation.”

“ common commitment to diversify energy sources was reiterated, reby reducing dependence on Russian supplies,” it indeed. 

US 'looking' at designating Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism' 

Meanwhile,  United States is “taking a close look at” designating Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”. In an interview with CNN, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Biden administration officials are looking at each available tool to hold Russia accountable for war in Ukraine. Russia had launched so-called ‘special’ military operation in Ukraine on February 24 and what followed was widespread destruction of Ukrainian cities along with dozens of thousands of casualties on both sides. 

When asked about possibility of designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, Price told media outlet, “We're taking a close look at facts. We're taking a close look at law” while adding “Wher it is this authority, wher it's any or authority available to us under law, we will apply it if it's effective and appropriate.” 

According to State Department, definition of a state sponsor of terrorism is a country that has “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.” Russia would be fifth nation to join list as rth Korea, Iran, Cuba and Syria are already labelled as state sponsors of terrorism by US. 

Im: AP