Overview
- The ambassador, who spoke June 10, called Italian claims that Russia is responsible for current global problems "palese falsità" and delivered a direct critique aimed at Italian authorities including an implicit rebuke of the Quirinale.
- Paramonov blamed NATO expansion since the mid-1990s for creating security threats and framed the "Operazione militare speciale" in Ukraine as a defensive response to a Western "hybrid war."
- He argued that Russia is not isolated and highlighted Moscow's active work in the UN, G20, BRICS, ASEAN and Eurasian organisations as evidence of a shift toward a multipolar world order.
- ANSA reported that the Russia Day reception at the ambassador's Villa Amabelek was largely snubbed by prominent Italian politicians and included guests tied to past Russia-related controversies, underlining domestic political sensitivity.
- Paramonov offered conditional openness to dialogue if hostile attitudes stop and his remarks are likely to harden public diplomatic rhetoric in Rome without signaling any immediate change in formal policy, which could prompt closer political scrutiny of Italy–Russia ties.