Russia slams Italian President over Nazi Germany comparison
Mattarella has likened Russia’s aggression against Ukraine to the actions of the Third Reich.
ROME – Tensions between Italy and Russia have flared after Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s comparison of Russia’s actions in Ukraine to those of Nazi Germany, prompting a united response from Italian political leaders.
“The Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, has made offensive statements, drawing outrageous parallels between Russia and Nazi Germany.” This was the reaction of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, according to reports from the Russian news agency TASS.
“It is bizarre and insane to hear such blasphemous inventions from the President of Italy, a country that knows first-hand what fascism truly is,” she added.
Speaking at the University of Marseille last week, the Italian head of state condemned the “wars of aggression” that triggered World War Two, stating, “This was the project of the Third Reich in Europe. The current Russian aggression against Ukraine is of this nature.”
Italian political leaders have rallied around Mattarella in response. “The insults from the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, who described President Sergio Mattarella’s words as ‘blasphemous fabrications,’ are an offense to the entire Italian nation, which he represents,” PM Giorgia Meloni stated in an official note.
She expressed her “full solidarity, as well as that of the entire government,” with the President, emphasizing that Mattarella has always firmly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto sought to downplay the controversy, calling Zakharova a “so-called spokeswoman” whose remarks should be dismissed. “This is not Russia speaking, but rather an individual who, over the years, has made all sorts of statements,” Crosetto remarked.
“We all responded to her as she deserved because she is not someone who can even dare to utter the name of the President of the Italian Republic,” he added. “We told her to stay in her place and to read before commenting next time.”
(Alessia Peretti | Euractiv.it)
