Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi condemned the “comparison between the invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic crisis in Italy” as “particularly odious and unacceptable”. Russia accused Italy of falling for “anti-Russian hysteria”.
Alexey Paramonov, head of the Russian foreign ministry’s European department, accused Italy of falling victim to “anti-Russian hysteria”, in comments to the state-run RIA Novosti agency. He also accused Italy of forgetting centuries-long relations and bilateral agreements “in a second.”
Paramonov also said he hoped the comments last month by French finance minister Bruno Le Maire to “wage a total economic and financial war on Russia” would not “find followers in Italy.” That would, he warned, “cause a series of appropriate irreversible consequences.”
Mr Paramonov further said Russia had provided “significant assistance” to Italy during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 . That, at the request of Italy’s defence minister Lorenzo Guerini. Mr Guerini was now one of the main “hawks and instigators of the anti-Russian campaign”, Paramonov continued.
“Odious and unacceptable” comparison
Draghi condemned the “comparison between the invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic crisis in Italy” as “particularly odious and unacceptable.”
The Italian foreign ministry said it “firmly rejects the threatening statements” from Moscow. Rome and its partners would “continue to exert every pressure” to stop the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, it added. Mr Guerini said Italy would “not give weight to propaganda.” Italy continues to stand by Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the Italian parliament on Tuesday.
