In the Middle Ages, the Italian Republic of Genoa ruled parts of Crimea with the city of Caffa, and the town of Oleshia in modern southern Ukraine.

The Italian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared its “strong condemnation of Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine”.

[5] Italy has also underlined the violation of international law perpetrated by Russian authorities and has expressed its full support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

[5] Initially, the government of Italy was not manifestly determined to impose economic sanctions on Russia as a form of countermeasure after the breakout of the war.

The Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelenskyy, through his official Twitter account, then criticised Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi for his reluctance to apply more severe sanctions against Russia.

The main Italian firms present in Ukraine are Ferrero, Intesa Sanpaolo, Eni, Mapei, Saipem, and Selex.