Italy’s internal rift over Russia deepens as Putin claims European voters reject war
Vladimir Putin has claimed that European voters, through recent elections, have made clear they do not want war with Russia—yet no specific electoral results were cited to back the assertion. Speaking during a meeting of Russia’s military-industrial commission, the Russian president used the statement to criticize European leaders for prolonging the Ukraine conflict, accusing them of ignoring public sentiment while pushing for escalation. Putin offered no evidence linking any 2025–2026 election to his claim, and no major European-wide vote occurred in that period—the last European Parliament elections took place in 2024. Western officials largely dismissed the remark as propaganda.
Italy’s coalition fractures over gas and diplomacy
The controversy intensified in Italy, where Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini declared that Italy could “absolutely” resume Russian gas imports after the war ends. His remarks, made during a Milan meeting with Italian business leaders and Russian Ambassador Alexei Paramonov, drew immediate backlash from within his own government.
Ambassador Paramonov welcomed the meeting as a “return to realism,” a phrasing that sparked panic in Rome. The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responded with cold pragmatism: Russia would resume gas exports to Western Europe only if they were profitable and if volumes could be spared from Asia-bound contracts. Moscow’s reply undermined Salvini’s optimism, framing energy as a transaction, not a gesture of goodwill.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni distanced herself sharply, emphasizing that Italy’s support for Ukraine remains “unwavering.” She labeled Moscow’s growing provocations—including drone incursions near NATO airspace—as signs of “irritability.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated that while Italy is not at war with Russia, it insists on respect for international law and the end of the invasion of Ukraine.
Opposition and allies condemn Salvini’s alignment
The political fallout has split Italy’s ruling coalition and drawn fierce criticism from the opposition. Carlo Calenda of Azioner accused Salvini of “lowering his trousers before Putin,” noting that while Italian Eurofighters intercepted Russian drones over the Baltic, the deputy premier was negotiating gas deals in Milan. Edoardo Ziello of Futuro Nazionale called the stance a “charade,” pointing out the contradiction between diplomatic isolation and economic outreach.
The division extended to the European Parliament, where Italy’s coalition fractured over a resolution identifying Russia as the primary external threat to European democracy. Brothers of Italy and the League voted against it; Forza Italia, the PD, and Azione supported it. Elected officials on all sides now concede the episode has exposed deeper fault lines in Italy’s foreign policy identity.
U.S. charges Russian operatives in assassination plot
In a separate development, the U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against five individuals tied to Russia’s “RIS Network,” accused of plotting targeted killings in the U.S. and pro-Ukraine European countries. Three defendants are alleged to be high-ranking officers within Russia’s foreign operations unit, including Yuri Khrameev and his son Kirill Khrameev.
The indictment details efforts to recruit residents in the U.S. to surveil and assassinate a prominent Russian dissident in Washington D.C., with a $40,000 offer for the kill. All five remain at large and are believed to be in Russia. Deputy Attorney General John A. Eisenberg vowed the U.S. would not allow foreign intelligence services to operate freely on its soil.
Conflicts flare across global theaters
• Saudi Arabia: An Italian F-2000 Eurofighter was damaged in a missile or drone strike on Ta’if Air Base, part of Operation Inherent Resolve. No personnel were hurt, but the incident highlights the regional entanglement of Italy’s military.
• Yemen: Forty-eight people died in 24 hours as Houthi rebels and pro-Saudi forces clashed. Houthis claimed attacks on oil facilities in Yanbu and sensitive sites in Riyadh.
• Ukraine: A decadelon of explosions shook Kyiv during an air raid alert, underscoring the ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian infrastructure.
• Kremlin’s posture: Putin announced plans to upgrade Russia’s air defense to destroy “any aerial or space-based weapon,” while also accelerating satellite networks to improve military communication and surveillance.
• Brazil: President Lula announced he will address the UN to demand Donald Trump refrain from interfering in Brazil’s October elections.
• Iran: The U.S. granted visas for Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembly, suggesting a tactical shift ahead of upcoming talks.
• Korea: South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung said Trump “clearly” seeks dialogue with North Korea, although neither side has confirmed plans for direct contact.
Italy’s official stance remains anchored in NATO and EU solidarity—but internal disagreements threaten its coherence. As Moscow escalates hybrid pressures and exploits fissures in Western democracies, Rome now faces not just external threats, but the urgent challenge of speaking with one voice at home.
