Russian State TV Host Insults Italian PM with Foul Language, Escalating Tensions
Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent Russian state TV host, insulted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with crude language on air. The Italian President condemned the remarks, and the Foreign Minister summoned the Russian ambassador, causing diplomatic tensions to soar.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 08:57
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 09:31 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 12:51 (3h 19m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA Correspondent Huang Ya-shih, Rome, 21st) Vladimir Solovyov, a well-known state television host seen as "Russian President Putin's mouthpiece," insulted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with extremely vulgar language on his show today. Italian President Sergio Mattarella immediately issued a condemnation, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani officially protested by summoning the Russian ambassador to Italy, throwing Russian-Italian relations into high tension.
Vladimir Solovyov, long considered the Kremlin's most loyal mouthpiece in Russia, deliberately insulted Giorgia Meloni in Italian on his "Full Contact" program today, sparking nationwide outrage in Italy and a condemnation from Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Italy's ANSA news agency posted the video and reported that the crude terms Solovyov used in Italian included calling her "a complete idiot, a vicious woman, a disgrace to humanity," and even inserted the word "prostitute" between the Italian Prime Minister's first and last names.
ANSA noted that Solovyov, wearing a military green jacket emblazoned with the hammer and sickle, mixed Russian and Italian to scream "fascist bastard, she betrayed her own voters, the slogans she shouted during the campaign were completely different."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani posted on the social platform X that he had summoned Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov to the Foreign Ministry to file a formal protest against Solovyov's "extremely serious offensive remarks" made about Meloni on Russian television. He expressed full solidarity and support for Meloni.
Tensions between Moscow and Rome have run high due to Italy's strong support for Ukraine. During Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's recent visit to the Italian Prime Minister's Office and the Presidential Palace, the Italian government reiterated its support for Ukraine, and Italy and Ukraine signed a drone production agreement during the meeting.
This is not the first time Russia has used insulting language to attack the Italian government. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously lashed out at Mattarella on multiple occasions. In early November 2025, when a fatal ancient tower collapse occurred in Rome, Russian Ambassador Paramonov made mocking remarks hinting that "supporting Ukraine will also lead to your own collapse," which prompted the Italian Foreign Ministry to summon him in protest. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150422
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(CNA Correspondent Huang Ya-shih, Rome, 21st) Vladimir Solovyov, a well-known state television host seen as "Russian President Putin's mouthpiece," insulted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with extremely vulgar language on his show today. Italian President Sergio Mattarella immediately issued a condemnation, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani officially protested by summoning the Russian ambassador to Italy, throwing Russian-Italian relations into high tension.
Vladimir Solovyov, long considered the Kremlin's most loyal mouthpiece in Russia, deliberately insulted Giorgia Meloni in Italian on his "Full Contact" program today, sparking nationwide outrage in Italy and a condemnation from Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Italy's ANSA news agency posted the video and reported that the crude terms Solovyov used in Italian included calling her "a complete idiot, a vicious woman, a disgrace to humanity," and even inserted the word "prostitute" between the Italian Prime Minister's first and last names.
ANSA noted that Solovyov, wearing a military green jacket emblazoned with the hammer and sickle, mixed Russian and Italian to scream "fascist bastard, she betrayed her own voters, the slogans she shouted during the campaign were completely different."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani posted on the social platform X that he had summoned Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexey Paramonov to the Foreign Ministry to file a formal protest against Solovyov's "extremely serious offensive remarks" made about Meloni on Russian television. He expressed full solidarity and support for Meloni.
Tensions between Moscow and Rome have run high due to Italy's strong support for Ukraine. During Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's recent visit to the Italian Prime Minister's Office and the Presidential Palace, the Italian government reiterated its support for Ukraine, and Italy and Ukraine signed a drone production agreement during the meeting.
This is not the first time Russia has used insulting language to attack the Italian government. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously lashed out at Mattarella on multiple occasions. In early November 2025, when a fatal ancient tower collapse occurred in Rome, Russian Ambassador Paramonov made mocking remarks hinting that "supporting Ukraine will also lead to your own collapse," which prompted the Italian Foreign Ministry to summon him in protest. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.