Moscow Accuses Italian President of Misrepresenting Nuclear Threat

Moscow: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday accused Italian President Sergio Mattarella of lying following his criticism of Moscow’s “nuclear narrative” during his recent State visit to Japan. Mattarella’s remarks were made while he was in Hiroshima, meeting with survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

According to Ansa News Agency, Mattarella stated that the Russian Federation had become “the promoter of a renewed and dangerous nuclear narrative.” He criticized Russia for blocking the work of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, withdrawing from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and threatening Ukraine. He warned of the unacceptable idea that nuclear weapons could become a standard tool in conflict management, leading to total destruction. Zakharova countered these statements, claiming they were untrue.

Zakharova was quoted by Tass as saying, “Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s claims that Russia threatens Europe with nuclear weapons are lies and falsehoods.” Her comments came in response to Mattarella’s remarks, which have further strained relations between Italy and Russia.

Following Mattarella’s recent comparison of Russia to the Third Reich concerning its invasion of Ukraine, Italian institutions and companies experienced a series of cyberattacks allegedly orchestrated by pro-Russian hackers. Zakharova had previously indicated that such comments by Mattarella would not go “without consequences.”