ROME, September 17. /TASS/. Banning former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from entering Ukraine is an absurd move, a member of his party Forza Italia (Forward Italy) said on Thursday.

"The entrance ban to Ukraine for Berlusconi is an absurd measure," lawmaker Luca Squeri said. "We will demand that Prime Minister [Matteo] Renzi summon Ukraine’s ambassador to explain this move against the leader who has always worked to strengthen relations between Russia and the West, including the resolution of most serious international crises."

He added that Berlusconi’s contacts with world leaders help maintain stability in many parts of the world.

Forza Italia will seek the lifting of this "paradoxical" ban, Squeri added.

The Ukrainian Security Service has banned Berlusconi from entering the country following his last week’s visit to Crimea.