The European Union is finalising a first package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is ready to impose further measures if needed, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Friday.
EU leaders met on Thursday to discuss sanctions, but whereas the United States and Britain issued detailed measures, European Union countries, split over just how far to go, left details to be worked out in the coming days.
Speaking off the record, some diplomats in Brussels have said Italy had been opposed to tougher initial sanctions, such as cutting Russia off from SWIFT -- an international payments system through which it receives foreign currency. He added that Italy was ready to supply an additional 3,400 military personnel to support NATO efforts to contain the Ukraine crisis, boosting the 240 Italian troops already involved in NATO missions in eastern Europe.
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