“I applaud @Antonio_Tajani’s proposal to hold the first stage of next year’s prestigious Giro d’Italia cycling event in Ukraine,” the minister said on Twitter.
"A great example of sports truly uniting people and nations.
"Grazie mille, Antonio and all of our Italian friends, for having faith in Ukraine’s victory,” he said.
Tajani told a Giro d’Italia-focussed event at the foreign ministry in Rome on Tuesday that he would like to see the famous race begin in the war-ravished country.
The race sometimes has its first stages outside of Italy.
“The Giro d’Italia is one of our country’s greatest sporting events and it touches other countries, too,” Tajani said.
“I would like it to start in Ukraine next year. It would be a sign of attention for a country that we support with great strength.
“We consider sport to be a foreign-policy instrument,” he added at the event titled The 106th Giro d’Italia: a showcase for Italian know-how.
“The whole of ‘system Italy’ forms our foreign policy by making ties of friendship, solidarity and good neighbourship,” he said.
Rome has staunchly supported Ukraine since Russia’s invasion last year, sending military aid to Kyiv and backing Western sanctions on Moscow.
The 106th Giro starts on Saturday and runs until May 28.
ANSA
