Russian ambassador summoned after Russia says tower collapse was due to Italy support of Ukraine

 ROME – The Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, has been summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an official reprimand after Russian politician, Maria Zakharova, issued a statement saying that the Torre dei Conti collapse was due to Italy supporting Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

 Zakharova, the director of the information and press department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on her Telegram channel that “as long as the Italian government continues to waste its taxpayers’ money on Ukraine, Italy will collapse from its economy to its towers.”

 The spokeswoman was referencing the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in central Rome on Monday morning which saw four rescued from under the rubble. One worker remains trapped. The cause of the collapse is currently unknown; however, renovation works were ongoing. 

 In her statement, Zakharova added that she recalled that “in May this year, the Italian Foreign Ministry reported that Italian support for Ukraine, including military aid and contributions paid through EU mechanisms, amounts to approximately €2.5 billion.”

 Subsequently, the Farnese has summoned the Russian Ambassador, Paramonov, for a formal reprimand and to explain Zakharova’s words.

 Paramonov had previously been summoned by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in March, after Zakharova accused Italian President Sergio Mattarella of “lies and falsehoods” regarding Russian nuclear abilities.

 khg