Members of the Ukrainian community in Rome, Italy, have staged a rally in protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to the Italian capital.
The event took place on Piazza Bocca della Verita in the historical center of Rome under the slogan "Stop Putin's Aggression in Ukraine," Radio Liberty's Ukrainian service reported.
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About fifty members of the Ukrainian community were chanting slogans: "Putin go home," "Putin, hands off Ukraine!"
"The dictator who has occupied part of an independent state does not deserve such a high-level reception Italy has given. Italy seems to have forgotten that there is a war in Europe, and Putin is the one who is behind it," head of the Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy Oles Horodetsky said at the event.
He called on Italian politicians to finally show solidarity in upholding the interests of Ukraine and urge the Russian president to adhere to international law and withdraw Russian troops and weapons from Donbas, the east of Ukraine.
As UNIAN reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Rome on an official visit on July 4. He met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
