Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday called for calm after United States President Donald Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him, among other things, a “dictator”.

“The new US administration’s words are always strong,” Tajani told Radio 24.

“There are cracks in the relationship between Trump and Zelensky, but it is in our interest that the situation calms down and peace is achieved.

“Let’s not dwell on those words.

“It’s not our sort of language.

“We need to hold our nerve because skirmishes are taking place and there will be more.

“Trump probably used hard words because he didn’t like Zelensky’s reaction to the US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia but let’s not get het up by reports”.