Latest news with #RussianForeignMinistry
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Italy summons Russian ambassador over 'Russophobe' list naming president
ROME, July 30 (Reuters) - The Italian government said on Wednesday that it would summon the Russian ambassador to protest against President Sergio Mattarella being included in a list compiled by Moscow of Western leaders accused of anti-Russian sentiment. "Publishing a list of so-called 'Russophobes' who supposedly incite hatred against Russia is yet another propaganda operation," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a statement. On July 24, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a list of what it called "hate speech" against Russia by members of Western elites in which it included a statement from Mattarella at Aix-Marseille University last February. In his speech, the Italian president drew a parallel between Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the expansionist wars of Nazi Germany. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Italy has traditionally had close political and economic ties with Russia. However, after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the relationship deteriorated, and Rome has firmly stood by Kyiv. According to Meloni, Moscow broke international law by invading Ukraine and Western countries have condemned Russia. Mattarella is the only Italian in the list, which also includes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, the Secretary-General of NATO Mark Rutte, and the President of France Emmanuel Macron.
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Peace settlement in Ukraine never been on ‘real agenda' of the West: Russia's Zakharova
Peace talks and a settlement in Ukraine have never been on the real agenda of the West, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday, in her first comments on negotiations since Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on Wednesday. If the West wanted 'real peace' in Ukraine, it would stop supplying Kyiv with weapons, Zakharova said in comments reported by TASS news agency. Earlier, in her weekly briefing on Thursday, she had declined to comment on the talks.
Al Arabiya
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Russia expands list of EU officials banned from entry in response to new EU sanctions
Russia has 'significantly expanded' the list of sanctioned EU officials in response to new EU sanctions adopted in May and July 2025, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday via its Telegram channel. The ministry did not specify who exactly was on the expanded list. The officials on the list will be banned from entering Russia.
Russia Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israeli ambassador to leave Russia early
Israeli Ambassador to Russia Simona Halperin will leave her post early due to a new appointment, Russian media reported on Monday, citing embassy representatives. Her stay is expected to end this autumn. In a statement on X earlier on Monday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Halperin's appointment as deputy director-general for Europe. The ministry did not specify whether she would be recalled from Russia immediately, but Israeli Embassy staff in Moscow told TASS she would remain until at least October. 'The ambassador will end her mission early, due to the fact that she received the position of head of the European Department at the Israeli Foreign Ministry… It is expected that Madam Ambassador will leave in October,' the representative said, adding that a replacement has not yet been named. Halperin, born in Riga in 1969, lived in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) before immigrating to Israel in 1976. She has served in the Israeli Foreign Ministry since 1993, holding posts in a number of foreign missions. She was appointed Israel's envoy to Russia in November 2024. Her tenure in Moscow began with controversy after she was summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry for remarks made in an interview with Kommersant, in which she criticized Moscow's stance on the October 7 Hamas attacks. She condemned Russia for refusing to label Hamas a terrorist group, accusing officials of 'embracing' and 'rolling out the red carpet' for the militant group. Russia's Foreign Ministry called the remarks 'an extremely unfortunate start to a diplomatic mission.' Since then, however, her stay has been largely uneventful. In a later interview with RBK, Halperin praised the cooperation between Russia and Israel in securing the release of Hamas' hostages. Russia maintains official ties with both Israel and Palestine and promotes a balanced diplomatic stance, supporting the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Moscow has condemned both Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel and the civilian toll due to IDF strikes in Gaza.
Russia Today
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky wants personal meeting with Putin
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has once again called for a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that only such a summit could secure a 'truly lasting' peace. Moscow considers this pointless until the countries' delegations find some common ground. When Putin offered Kiev in May to resume direct negotiations – without preconditions and from the point at which Ukraine had unilaterally abandoned talks in 2022 – Zelensky challenged him to come and meet in Istanbul personally. Ukraine eventually agreed to send its delegation amid reported pressure from Washington, and since then the sides have held two rounds of talks, resulting in prisoner exchanges but no breakthrough toward ending the conflict. The talks stalled in June, after Kiev dismissed Moscow's peace proposals, and later declared the process 'exhausted,' and indicated it had only participated to avoid appearing dismissive of US President Trump's diplomatic initiative. Speaking on Saturday, Zelensky stated that the 'pace of negotiations must be increased,' offering to hold a new round of talks next week – and once again demanded a personal meeting with Putin. 'A meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure a lasting peace,' he said, adding that 'Ukraine is ready.' Zelensky's presidential term expired last year, but he has repeatedly cited the state of emergency he imposed as grounds for remaining in office beyond the constitutional deadline. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently accused the Ukrainian actor-turned-politician of pushing for a personal meeting with Putin to reaffirm his political legitimacy, claiming he 'is insanely afraid of being forgotten, of becoming unnecessary for the West.' Despite Zelensky's dubious legal status, Putin previously confirmed he was open to a potential meeting – but questioned his authority to sign any binding agreements. 'I am ready to meet with anyone, including Zelensky. That's not the issue,' the Russian president stated in June. 'The question is different: Who will sign the documents?' According to Moscow, legal authority in Ukraine now resides with the parliament, not with Zelensky. On Tuesday, Ukrainian lawmakers once again extended martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, with just a single dissenting vote.
