Preserve dialogue with Russia says Italy

(ANSA) - Rome, October 14 - Italy believes in preserving dialogue with Russia, Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti said Friday. "Italy's policy is that dialogue with Russia is necessary," she said. "We don't underestimate the fact that there have also been breaches of international legitimacy with the crisis in Ukraine. Notwithstanding, we think there must be a dialogue with Russia". Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in early 2014. Pinotti's remarks came after Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova berated what she called NATO's "destructive policy". "The Alliance is busy building new dividing lines in Europe instead of solid, deep-rooted relationships based on being good neighbors," Zakharova told ANSA in response to an interview NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg gave Italy's La Stampa daily, in which he said a contingent of Italian soldiers will be among NATO troops to be deployed in Latvia in 2018.