The Russian ambassador called Zakharova's reaction to Mattarella's words a defense against attacks on Russia.

Russian Ambassador to Rome Alexei Paramonov, who was summoned to the Italian Foreign Ministry because of criticism of President Sergio Mattarella by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on March 15 called her reaction a defense against unjustified attacks on Russia.

According to Paramonov, Russia's reaction was aimed at defending itself from unjustified attacks that create tension in bilateral relations. He stressed that the Russian side suggested that Italian diplomats consider their position not as a "verbal attack", but as a response to repeated accusations.

The Ambassador noted that at the meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry, both sides recognized the importance of using diplomatic channels to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

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Earlier, on March 13, Zakharova reported that Italian President Sergio Mattarella, saying that Russia was allegedly threatening Europe with nuclear weapons, was openly deceiving and spreading false information, and he should be held accountable for his words.

She later said that by summoning the Russian ambassador to the Italian Foreign Ministry, the local authorities had drawn even more attention to their own problems. She clarified that the Italian side reacts in a similar way, since representatives of Russia once again caught the same person lying.