Telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi 2014-10-14 14:05:00 Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Matteo Renzi at the Italian side’s initiative. The two leaders exchanged views on preparations for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which is to take place on October 16–17, 2014 in Milan, and on forthcoming contacts in various formats. They confirmed their agreement to hold Russian-Italian talks during the summit to allow for a more detailed discussion of the prospects for expanding bilateral relations and of pressing international issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.