Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused Russia of insulting the entire Italian nation and said he stands behind words spoken by Italian President Sergio Mattarella during a ceremony awarding him the title of "doctor honoris causa", which took place in Marseille last week, reported Italian media, including ANSA, "Messager" and "Stampa", BTA writes.
During his speech in Marseille, President Sergio Mattarella criticized the wars of aggression that led to World War II. "This was the project of the Third Reich in Europe. The current Russian aggression against Ukraine is of this nature," Mattarella said at the time.
Today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Mattarella's words, calling them "blasphemous fabrications".
Meloni then stated that the insult uttered by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman was an insult directed at the entire Italian nation, which the head of state represents.
"I express my full solidarity, as well as that of the entire Italian government, with President Mattarella, who has always strongly condemned the aggression committed against Ukraine," Meloni said.
Under Meloni's administration, Italy firmly sided with Ukraine and provided that country with 10 packages of military aid so far.