Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday that the policy Italy has adopted
since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine was "deplorable".
Rome has staunchly supported Western sanctions on Russia since
its aggression on its neighbour and is sending military aid to
Kyiv.
"Italy is always in our hearts, but at the moment it is at the
forefront, politically and in security terms, of the countries
that want to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia," Ryabkov told
ANSA in an interview.
"This is deplorable.
"Italy has had extraordinary relations with our country in every
field for centuries,
"There have been ups and downs and wars. But Rome was among the
very few that had a profound comprehension of the respective
positions and of how much these relations enrich us
reciprocally".
Ryabkov said the areas of Ukraine that Russia has annexed will
remain under Moscow's control permanently.
"Russia is continuing the military operation in Ukraine to
ensure it has total control of the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk,
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which were annexed last September by
the Russian Federation," he said.
"Territories that have become an integral part of Russia cannot
be reconsidered in another way".
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