Italy summons Russian ambassador over TV presenter's insults at PM Giorgia Meloni

Published on 21/04/2026 - 20:31 GMT+2

Italy has summoned the Russian ambassador successful Rome aft a Russian tv presenter delivered a watercourse of insults against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Tuesday.

According to Italian media, presenter Vladimir Solovyov said successful Italian connected Russian tv that Meloni was a "disgrace to the quality race" a "wild beast" a "certified idiot" and a "nasty small woman."

Then, switching to Russian, helium said that "this Meloni is simply a fascist carnal who betrayed her electors," adding that "she adjacent betrayed (US President Donald) Trump."

Tajani posted connected X that helium had "summoned the Russian Ambassador, Alexey Paramonov, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally protestation the highly superior and violative remarks made by the TV host.

Even absorption parties successful Italy condemned the comments by the Russian presenter.

Leader of the absorption Five Star Movement Giuseppe Conte slammed the insults arsenic "unspeakable," portion Mariastella Gelmini of the Us Moderates (Noi Moderati) enactment called the remarks unacceptable.

"A Russian TV presenter, a spokesperson for the Kremlin position, made unacceptable sexist accusations against Giorgia Meloni. Once again, we would similar to punctual the Russian authorities that those who insult the representatives of Italian institutions offend the full state and we bash not judge this," caput of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, said.

Barbara Floridia, the president of the Rai supervisory commission, stressed that idiosyncratic insults aren’t a morganatic instrumentality of governmental disapproval and that Italy volition not beryllium intimidated by Russian propaganda.

Relations betwixt Rome and Moscow person been tense due to the fact that of Meloni's beardown enactment for Ukraine, portion Meloni's erstwhile affable relations with US President Donald Trump person worsened since she defended Pope Leo XIV against the US president's verbal attacks.

Last week, Trump launched a stinging disapproval of Meloni, 1 of his main European allies, implicit her unwillingness to articulation the Iran war.

"I'm shocked astatine her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," helium said successful an interrogation with Italian regular Corriere della Sera.

"She's unacceptable due to the fact that she doesn't caput that Iran has a atomic limb and would stroke up Italy successful 2 minutes if they had the chance."