Biden invites Italy's PM for crucial White House discussions

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Monday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the brief uprising by Russian mercenaries against the Kremlin.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about infrastructure jobs and job training in broadband, construction, and manufacturing following the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 2, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Monday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the brief uprising by Russian mercenaries against the Kremlin and also invited her to visit the White House in July, the White House said in a statement.

Biden has spoken with key allies about the events in Russia and the phone call with Meloni was part of that effort, the statement said. "The leaders affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine," it said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a press conference in Tunis, Tunisia June 6, 2023. Tunisian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Biden and Meloni also discussed preparations for the NATO summit in Vilnius next month and recent developments in North Africa, the White House said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech)