MOSCOW, November 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed energy cooperation with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi over the phone, Kremlin press service reported Tuesday.

"The discussion focused on a number of pressing issues on mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Italy in various areas, with emphasis on promising joint projects in the energy sector," the report said.

Italian energy companies Eni and Enel have operations in Russia. Also, the Italian side participated in the preparation works on the South Stream gas pipeline project, which was put on hold in 2014.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in June 2016, that Russia expects Italy to become a hub for Russia’s exports of energy resources, including gas, to Europe and North Africa.