by Susan Heavey and Lisa Lambert

U.S. President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will meet April 17 to discuss a range of security issues, including the crisis in Ukraine and ongoing efforts to counter Islamic State, the White House said on Tuesday. "Italy is a valued NATO ally and partner on a broad range of global challenges," it said in a statement.

Italy is among the European allies working with the United States to address ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists seek to sever ties with Western-backed Kiev, and weighing possible further sanctions against Russia.

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Source: http://www.reuters.com/