Public praise from Maria Zakharova and Russian state media followed Matteo Salvini’s warning against further rearmament for Ukraine and comparisons of European leaders to historical invaders, reviving earlier warnings that rising anti-American rhetoric is weakening Italy’s role in European security.Speaking on Rete4’s Quarta Repubblica, Salvini said he is pro-Italian, denied supporting Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, declared “we are not at war with Russia” and urged prudence on arms shipments while Russian outlets highlighted his claim that sanctions have crippled European economies.Commentators including Lucio Caracciolo, Andrea Malaguti and Guido Rampoldi had earlier cautioned that accommodating foreign influence could erode intelligence and defense cooperation and called for parliamentary debate, investigative journalism and greater transparency as opposition figures including Matteo Renzi, Osvaldo Napoli and Luigi Marattin demanded that Giorgia Meloni distance the government from Salvini’s remarks.