Russia has strongly condemned Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella after he compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Nazi Germany’s aggression during World War Two, ratcheting up the tensions between Moscow and Rome over the conflict.
In a statement released on Sunday, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, vowed that Mattarella’s comments “cannot and will never be left without consequences.” The remarks came after Mattarella criticized what he called “wars of aggression” and drew comparisons between Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the Nazi regime’s territorial ambitions before and during the Second World War.
Last week, in a speech, President Mattarella stated, “This was the Third Reich’s project in Europe. Today’s Russian aggression towards Ukraine is of this kind.” The remarks were supported by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who charged Russia with “insulting the whole Italian nation.”
Russia responded quickly, with Zakharova denouncing Mattarella’s statements as “outrageous blatantly false historical parallels.” She also accused Italy of backing what she termed the “terrorist Kyiv neo-Nazi regime” by providing Ukraine with advanced arms.
Zakharova also condemned Italy, citing its past as the cradle of fascism under the regime of Benito Mussolini, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. She reminded Italy of history, since the Soviet Union, which Russia considers its historical predecessor, had collaborated with Britain and the United States against Nazi Germany.
Political leaders in Italy stood by Mattarella, calling out Russia for its remarks. Meloni himself supported the president’s analogy as Italy reaffirmed its strong allyship with Ukraine. Historically close to Russia, Italy took a dramatic divergence from the past, with Rome supporting Kyiv but not endorsing the use of its weapons outside Ukrainian territory.
