ROME, November 9. /TASS/. All diplomatic channels for dialogue should be kept open in relations with Moscow, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Sunday.

“We must not indulge in illusions that sanctions can change political positions of Russian leaders, but in relations with Moscow, nevertheless, it is necessary to maintain all diplomatic channels for dialogue,” he told the Rai television channel.

He said the European sanctions had told on the Russian economy and “Italy has played an important role in imposing these sanctions.”

“Europe should balance its relations with Russia. On the one hand, we should be exacting and uncompromising, but, on the other hand, we should maintain dialogue,” he said.