Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he did not know at the moment whether he would be able to take part in a conference on Libya, due in Italy’s Palermo on November 12-13, but pledged that Russia would be represented there at a very high level.

"We wish you success in hosting the conference scheduled in Palermo. I don’t know as of yet whether I will be able to personally participate, but definitely Russia will be represented at a very high level," Putin said at a news conference after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Putin said Moscow supports Rome’s efforts towards the settlement of the Libyan crisis. "As we know, it was staged, and not by Russia," Putin noted. "We see eye-to-eye with Italy that eventually it is the Libyan people themselves who must regulate all these problems inside Libya," the president stressed.

"We, for our part, can only offer support, act as guarantors," he summed up.