Italy summoned Russia's ambassador after TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov launched a series of insulting remarks about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on air, speaking in both Italian and Russian. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani lodged a formal protest with Ambassador Alexey Paramonov. Opposition parties condemned the comments, and Meloni said the attacks would not alter Italy's policy direction. The episode underscores existing tensions between Rome and Moscow over Italy's support for Ukraine.
Italy Summons Russian Ambassador After TV Host's Vitriolic Insults Toward PM Meloni
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was reportedly targeted with a slew of insults by a Russian TV presenter (Tom Nicholson)(Tom Nicholson/POOL/AFP)
Italy summoned Russia's ambassador in Rome to lodge a formal protest after a Russian television presenter directed a barrage of personal insults at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday.
Italian media reported that presenter Vladimir Solovyov spoke in Italian on Russian television and described Meloni as "a disgrace to the human race", "a wild beast", "a certified idiot" and "a nasty little woman." He then switched to Russian, accusing her of being "a fascist creature who betrayed her electors" and saying she had "even betrayed (US President Donald) Trump."
Antonio Tajani wrote 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."
Political leaders across Italy — including opposition parties — publicly condemned the presenter's comments as inappropriate and diplomatically unacceptable. Tajani's summons of Ambassador Alexey Paramonov is a formal diplomatic protest, underlining Rome's disapproval.
Meloni herself responded on X, writing that "these caricatures certainly won't make us change course," and 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."
The episode comes amid already strained relations between Rome and Moscow over Italy's strong support for Ukraine. Separately, Meloni's rapport with international figures such as former US President Donald Trump has cooled somewhat amid political disagreements.
Context: The incident highlights how inflammatory media rhetoric can spill over into formal diplomatic actions and further complicate relations between countries that are already at odds on key foreign-policy questions.
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