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Italy's Renzi says Europe cannot position itself against Russia

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrives at the European Union (EU) Council headquarters at the start of an EU leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 25, 2015. REUTERS/Darren Staples

BERLIN (Reuters) - Europe should not be seen as a bulwark against Russia, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday. In a speech during a visit to Berlin, Renzi said that while Russia needed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Moscow remained a key partner in the fight against terrorism. "There is a tendency by some in eastern Europe to see Europe as a bulwark against Russia," Renzi said, adding that this was a misguided vision. (Reporting by Noah Barkin)