Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
Russia is always ready to resume constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Italy, but this is being prevented by the "anti-Russian" policy pursued by the government in Rome. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated this in response to a journalist's question about the possibility of reviving bilateral relations between Moscow and Rome.
“We have always been ready to develop relations with all constructive forces that do not profess Russophobia and do not act against our country,” Zakharova was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
According to the spokeswoman, precisely because of the line adopted by the Italian government, there are currently no full-fledged contacts between the two countries, despite Italian citizens being "extremely interested" in maintaining adequate relations with Moscow.
“Official Rome lacks sufficient political will to act in the interests of its citizens, going against, so to speak, the demands of its masters in Brussels and other capitals,” Zakharova concluded.
The spokeswoman's words come just days after statements by the Russian ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, to the Tass news agency.
"The majority of Italians resist the pressure of official propaganda. Just by browsing social media, you'll come across hundreds and thousands of publications by Italian citizens in support of Russia," Paramonov said, offering his perspective on Italy's position—from citizens to politicians, from intellectuals to artists—on the conflict in Ukraine and Europe's involvement.
We also hear the voice of the other Italy: that of opposition politicians, activists and civil society, scholars, musicians, priests, university professors, entrepreneurs, journalists, teachers, doctors, bloggers, students, workers, farmers, and ordinary citizens. Those who oppose Italy's involvement in a war against Russia, a goal zealously pursued by the hotheads in Kiev and their mentors in Brussels. Those who have not forgotten how Rome's participation in the Third Reich's Russian campaign, the March 'nach Osten,' ended. Those who understand how the Ukrainian conflict was provoked by forces seeking revenge for the geopolitical defeats of the past,” added Paramonov.
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