Italy has summoned Russia’s ambassador in Rome after a Russian TV presenter launched vicious insults against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed on Tuesday.
Italian media reported that presenter Vladimir Solovyov spoke in Italian during his Russian television broadcast, calling Meloni a “disgrace to the human race”, a “wild beast”, a “certified idiot”, and a “nasty little woman”.
Furthermore, Solovyov switched to Russian and declared that “this Meloni is a fascist creature who betrayed her electors,” adding that “she even betrayed (US President Donald) Trump.”
Consequently, Foreign Minister Tajani posted on X that he had “summoned the Russian Ambassador, Alexey Paramonov, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally protest the extremely serious and offensive remarks made by TV host Vladimir Solovyov on Russian television against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni”.
Meanwhile, opposition parties across Italy swiftly condemned the Russian presenter’s inflammatory comments, demonstrating rare political unity in Rome regarding foreign provocations.
Meloni’s Defiant Response and Broader Tensions
Defiantly, Meloni posted on X that “these caricatures certainly won’t make us change course,” adding that “our compass remains one and only; the interest of Italy. And we will continue to follow it with pride, much to the chagrin of propagandists far and wide.”
Relations between Rome and Moscow have grown tense because Meloni strongly supports Ukraine. Additionally, her once-friendly ties with Trump worsened after she defended Pope Leo XIV against the US president’s verbal attacks.
This diplomatic incident highlights escalating tensions between Italy and Russia amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
