Italy hits out at Russia’s ‘disturbing’ comments on Rome tower collapse
Italy summons Russian envoy over ‘vulgar’ tower collapse remarks
- Italy summoned Russia's deputy ambassador to protest what it called "vulgar" remarks made by Moscow's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova.
- Zakharova's comments on Telegram linked the collapse of a medieval tower in Rome, which killed a Romanian worker, to Italy's military support for Ukraine.
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani denounced the remarks as "disturbing" and "unacceptable", affirming Italy's unwavering foreign policy stance.
- The Russian Embassy in Rome later expressed condolences for the worker's death but also criticised an "aggressive, deplorable anti-Russian campaign" in Italian media.
- Italy has firmly supported Ukraine since the 2022 invasion with military and humanitarian aid, despite divided public opinion regarding military involvement.