Italy recently summoned Russian ambassador Paramonov to protest against President Sergio Mattarella’s inclusion in a list compiled by Russia of leaders accused of anti-Russian sentiment. This update about this list of so-called ‘Russophobes’ is doing the rounds on the internet.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the publising of this list of people supposedly inciting hatred against Russia “yet another propaganda operation.” This incident is related to a speech Mattarella gave on July 24.
Late last month, the President of Italy compared Russia’s brutal military operation in Ukraine to the expansionist conflicts of Nazi Germany. The fighting in Ukraine has been raging on since February 2022, for more than three years.
Sergio Mattarella the only Italian on list of apparent ‘Russophobes’
During the meeting, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the Russian ambassador that “on the Italian side, in condemning the unacceptable Russian aggression against Ukraine, no intentions against the Federation or the Russian people” are expressed.
Italy and Russia have traditionally had close political and economic relations. But things started to change fast as Russian troops marched into Ukraine in 2022. The relationship has deteriorated as Rome firmly supports Ukraine.
President Sergio Mattarella is certainly the only Italian on the list of apparent ‘Russophobes’. But it also includes French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and more.
