The historical parallels used by the Italian president in his speech caused a sharp response from the Kremlin. Supposedly Mattarell’s words “cannot and will not be left without consequences”.
Russia responded angrily to the statements of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who recently compared the war that Moscow leads in Ukraine, to the aggression of Nazi Germany. TASR informs about this on the basis of Monday’s AFP report, according to which it contributed to an increase in the existing tension between Rome and Moscow about the conflict in Ukraine.
The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zacharova warned late on Sunday evening that the statements of Mattarella “cannot be and will not be left without consequences”.
“Conquest War” against Ukraine
Mattarella said in his speech at the Aix-Marseille University in France last week on Friday that there were certain parallels between Russia and the “Third Reich project” and described the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “conquest war”.
Zacharovová responded on Friday and accused the Italian president of “blatant, obviously false historical parallels.” At the same time, Italy – which, together with other NATO countries, sent weapons and money to help Ukraine to defend against Moscow – of “pumping the terrorist Kiev Neo -Nazi regime In Ukraine modern deadly weapons “.
In verbal attacks, according to AFP, she continued on Sunday, saying that “Italy was a country where fascism came from” referring to Benit Mussolini’s regime, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.
Meloni: Russians insult the whole Italian nation
Politicians in Italy, including Prime Minister Giorgie Meloni, immediately spoke to the defense of Mattarella. Meloni said that Moscow’s statements “insult the whole Italian nation”.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, recalls AFP. However, from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Italy – first under the reign of Prime Minister Mario Draghi and later Meloni – was definitely supported by Kiev. However, Rome has so far refused to allow Kiev to use Italian supplied weapons outside the Ukrainian territory.
