95 Global News Post 2

Italy Ukraine Locator. Image by Plumoyr at Wikipedia is licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0).

Italy’s Berlusconi Attacks Ukraine’s Zelensky, Sparking a Storm in Rome

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in early 2022, the surrounding countries have been placed under a microscope. Whether to support Ukraine or remove themselves from the action, countries have had to make important decisions regarding where their support lays. Those that choose to remain loyal to Ukraine fear being an enemy of Russia while those that side with Russia face harsh media criticisms and moral dilemmas. Italy’s relationship has always been supportive of Ukraine, until recently when a former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi spoke out against the government’s relationship and support of Ukraine, publicly shaming President Volodymyr Zelensky. An article titled “Italy’s Berlusconi Attacks Ukraine’s Zelensky, Sparking a Storm in Rome” details the outburst and both reactions from the Italian and Ukrainian governments.

After Zelensky released a statement thanking the Italian people for their continued support, Berlusconi publicly denied the statement and blamed Zelensky for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To do damage control, several active Italian politicians responded, defending Ukraine and the Italian support. After questioning sanctions on Russia and the aid given to Ukraine, it was no shock that Berlusconi tried to use his platform to gain voter support. A NATO secretary finally chimed in to ensure that the entirety of the Italian government is in support of Ukraine.

The author of this article published by The Wall Street Journal is Margherita Stancati. Based in Rome, she is a correspondent covering Southern Europe and the Middle East. Having been based in Afghanistan, India, and now Rome, Stancati is a great resource for European reporting. The article is written with respect to both perspectives of the Italian government as well as the anti-immigration League party that Berlusconi represents. Her familiarity and publications on European affairs give her a sense of credibility on this topic

Plumoyr (2008). Italy Ukraine Locator [Image]. Wikipedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Italy_Ukraine_Locator.png