Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacted sharply after a Russian TV host called her a “wild animal”.
according to Independent, Pro-Kremlin Russian television host Vladimir Soloyev insulted the Italian Prime Minister during a one-minute segment, calling him a “certified idiot” and “fascist scum.”
Following “extremely serious and offensive” comments about Meloni, Rome’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Tuesday, 21 April that he had summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry to express a formal protest against Soloyev’s comments about the prime minister on Russian television.
“Meloni is a fascist scoundrel who betrayed his voters, he campaigned on completely different slogans. Betrayal is his middle name: he even betrayed (US President Donald) Trump, to whom he had previously sworn allegiance,” he said in Russian.
Meloni also issued a sharp response to the criticism on social media, saying his only objective was “the interest of Italy”.
“By its very nature, a diligent regime propagandist cannot offer lessons in consistency or independence. But these caricatures certainly won’t force us to change course,” he wrote on Instagram.
He said, “Unlike others, we have no strings, no masters, and take no orders. Our guideline is the interest of Italy and only Italy. And we will continue to follow it with pride, much to the dismay of far-right campaigners.”
Meloni, who leads the right-wing government in Italy, has been a supporter of Ukraine. His government has also sent military and civilian aid to Kiev since the Russian invasion.
Notably, she was also a close ally of President Donald Trump, but stepped aside after the US war with Iran. He also openly criticized him for attacking Pope Leo XIV and the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025.
