Russian Diplomat
Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, announced on Thursday that he had summoned the Russian ambassador following repeated verbal attacks by Moscow against Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tajani expressed his strong disapproval of Russia’s latest remarks targeting the Italian head of state. “Strong condemnation of the umpteenth verbal attack against the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
A man of peace and a symbol of national and European unity,” Tajani wrote. He further explained that due to the severity of the situation, he had decided to summon the Russian ambassador to the Farnesina, the building that houses the Italian Foreign Ministry.
The controversy erupted after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused President Mattarella of spreading “lies” and “disinformation” when he criticized Russia for threatening Europe with nuclear weapons.
In her statement, Zakharova sarcastically suggested that Mattarella had confused Russia with France, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent comments about potentially extending France’s nuclear deterrent to protect European allies.
This was not the first time Zakharova had launched verbal attacks against the Italian president. Just a month ago, she criticized Mattarella for drawing comparisons between Russia’s actions and those of Nazi Germany’s Third Reich during World War II.
The Italian government viewed these repeated remarks as an unacceptable insult to a leader who represents peace and unity within both Italy and the broader European community. By summoning the Russian ambassador, Italy aims to formally express its discontent and demand an explanation from Moscow regarding these accusations.
The incident highlights the growing diplomatic tensions between Italy and Russia amid the ongoing geopolitical crisis in Eastern Europe.
Italy has consistently supported Ukraine and condemned Russia’s aggression, aligning itself with the European Union’s stance against Moscow’s military actions.
This latest move by the Italian Foreign Ministry is seen as a firm stand against Russia’s increasingly hostile rhetoric and a demonstration of Italy’s commitment to defending its national leadership and values on the global stage.
