Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Thursday as part of his working visit to the institutions of the European Union, the press service of the head of state has reported.

"The sides discussed the further steps of the Ukrainian president's peace plan and expressed hope for a speedy end to violence and the settlement of the situation in the east, in accordance with the provisions of the plan," reads the statement.

Renzi welcomed the expected signing of the economic part of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which will open up new opportunities for the development of Ukrainian-Italian partnership.

While discussing relations between Ukraine and the EU in the visa and migration sphere, Poroshenko urged Renzi to further simplify procedures for the receipt of visas by Ukrainian citizens, as well as to improve measures on protecting the rights of the Ukrainian community in Italy.

"Poroshenko and Renzi also discussed Ukrainian-Italian cooperation during the Italian presidency of the European Union from July this year," the press service reported.