Italian prime minister dismisses foul-mouthed tirade by Russian TV host known as Putin’s propagandist
Vladimir Solovyov called Giorgia Meloni ’a disgrace to the human race’
By Nick Squires in Rome
Nick Squires is The Telegraph’s Rome correspondent, covering Italy, the Vatican, Greece and the Balkans. He has reported for the paper since 2000, having previously covered Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Published 22 April 2026 6:58pm BST
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/22/giorgia-meloni-putin-ally-fascist-scum-solovyov/
Giorgia Meloni has defiantly dismissed a pro-Kremlin television presenter who called her a “b—-” and “fascist scum”.
Television host Vladimir Solovyov, who is considered Vladimir Putin’s state propagandist, labelled the Italian prime minister “a certified idiot” and “a bad woman” during a foul-mouthed tirade on his show Polnyj Kontakt (Full Contact).
Speaking partly in Italian and partly in Russian, he called her “Putta-Meloni”, an apparent play on the Italian word “puttana”, which means whore, prostitute or b—-.
He said the prime minister, who is four years into a five-year mandate and hoping to win 2027’s general election, was “a disgrace to the human race”.
He accused her of reneging on nationalist, populist beliefs that she espoused in the past.
“Meloni is fascist scum who betrayed her voters, having campaigned on completely different slogans. Betrayal is her middle name: she also betrayed Trump, to whom she had previously sworn allegiance.”
Ms Meloni remained unbowed, replying on X: “By his very nature, a propagandist of the regime cannot give lessons in either consistency or freedom.”
The insult “certainly won’t make us change course”, she said.
“We, unlike others, have no strings, no masters, and take no orders. Our compass remains one and only: the interest of Italy. And we will continue to follow it with pride, much to the chagrin of propagandists far and wide.”
Ms Meloni; ‘ A propagandist cannot give lessons in freedom’ Credit: Simona Granati /Corbis
Beneath the message she posted a photo of herself smiling and looking relaxed in front of the flags of Italy and the EU.
The tirade was met with anger in Italy.
“I had the Russian ambassador … summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs to express formal protests, following the extremely serious and offensive statements made by the host Vladimir Solovyev on Russian television,” said Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister.
“We are not concerned about political criticism, but vulgar, sexist insults towards the premier are absolutely unacceptable.”
Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s president, sent a message of solidarity to Ms Meloni, expressing anger over the Russian TV host’s remarks.
Elly Schlein, the leader of the opposition centre-Left Democratic Party, said the comments had been unacceptable and sexist. They “offend the entire country”, she said.
Close rapport with Zelensky
Ms Meloni leads a conservative coalition that has been staunch in its support of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. She has promised to collaborate on drone production with Ukraine.
She has a close professional and personal rapport with Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s leader.
He said on X: “Full respect to you, Giorgia, and to all of Italy. The miserable Russian propagandists certainly won’t succeed in diverting people whose compass is the defence of their country’s national interests.
“Thanks to you and to all Italians for such a clear stance.”
Ms Meloni, once seen as a potential “Trump whisperer” and a bridge between Europe and the US, has had a recent falling out with the US president.
She refused to take part in his blockade of the Gulf and has criticised Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo as unacceptable.
Her government recently refused the use of an air base in Sicily to US military aircraft involved in the war against Iran.
Her Brothers of Italy party has roots in Italy’s fascist movement, but under Ms Meloni it is regarded as having embraced a largely mainstream path.
Ms Meloni has repudiated fascism and the 20-year regime of Benito Mussolini.
“Meloni is fascist scum who betrayed her voters, having campaigned on completely different slogans. Betrayal is her middle name: she also betrayed Trump, to whom she had previously sworn allegiance.”
A telling quote, which yet again reveals the deep affection that even the most obscenely evil putinaZis have for “nashi trumpushka.”
Steve Rosenberg revealed that Solovyov was once a mainstream liberal journalist before becoming a hate-spewing genocidal nazi.
It was either an act or he underwent a full conversion.
The same can be said for putler’s nazi butt boy Medvedev, who successfully conned world leaders into thinking he was a liberal.
That was until acting PM putler ordered the theft of 20% of Georgia in 2008.
At that time, OrbanaZi was outspoken in his condemnation of that attack.
“In 2008, when he was still in opposition, Viktor Orbán took a courageous stand against Russian aggression against Georgia. He not only condemned their actions in the strongest terms but went one step further by advocating the immediate admission of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO, thereby signalling his support for their security and integration into Western alliances.”
https://europe-diplomatic.eu/defense/viktor-orban-and-the-ukrainian-question-a-clash-of-visions-for-europe/
So what causes these dramatic turnarounds?
Were the subjects of putinaZi patronage already intrinsically evil like Krasnov?
Or was there brainwashing, kompromat or just greed/susceptibility to bribery and flattery, like Peter Mandelson?
Comment from :
Bad Looking Rooster
Mr Solovyov, seen any Ukrainians handing flowers out to those honourable Russian invaders?
GRAHAM REEVE
Reply to Bad Looking Rooster
…only if that’s another slang term for a Molotov cocktail that I’m not familiar with.
Ron Thompson
No point taking any notice of Solovyov.
Bizarre little squirt who spends his time spouting paranoid delusions and calling for all-out war.
His job is to convince the Russian sheep who watch his show that their country is destined to rule the world, and that every non-allied country is an abomination which deserves nuking.
Trevor Smallwood
Such an attractive man.
So Kremlin.
🤑💰🤑💰🤑
Hairy Plotter
Don’t imagine his recent rants blaming russias rear guard for specific Ukrainian successes Deep Inside Muther russia helped morale of Citizens. He not only made these facts known to them. Completely disregarding legit Root Causes,Threatened to send them to the front lines.
Kremlin’s Krumblin.
Trevor Smallwood
Reply to Hairy Plotter – view message
Perhaps he could let them where they can pick up some contraband petrol courtesy of the Chechens? 😎
Hairy Plotter
Reply to Trevor Smallwood
russia’s Atlant Aero (Taganrog), Involved in the production of heavy Orion drones is no longer in the game. As told by Yuriy Fedorov, Had recent visit from Ukranian Neptune Missles.
Also, For hours now it has litterally been raining oil in and around Tuapse 🙂
Trevor Smallwood
Reply to Hairy Plotter
I hope the Neptune has a full dance card all summer. 🍿🍿
Matthew Matic
Odd to think that Solovyov was on Russian television in 2008 persuading Russians that invading and annexing Crimea was not a good idea and completely unnecessary. Sounds quite measured and reasonable.
Then someone waved a load of cash under his nose and now he’s a convert to nationalism, imperialism, enslavement, murder and nuclear armageddon. This is called corruption, and everyone in the higher echelons of the Russian media (all state-controlled) has been through a similar process of inducement with whatever will float their boat to peddle a stream of Kremlin BS propaganda.
A random User
Melon seems to be drawing criticism from Nazi types in both the USA and Russia.
Does that mean we can’t call her far right anymore?
GRAHAM REEVE
Reply to A random User
Personally I never did call her far right. But it seems the genuine far right still expected her to dance to their twisted tune just because others called her far right.
Simon Rawle
It is not really about Meloni, methinks. Solovyov’s reported comments, if you look at the 6th paragraph carefully, show that he is actually trying to cosy up to Trump, using potty-mouthed language and appealing to his perennial sense of “betrayed” victimhood.
GRAHAM REEVE
Reply to Simon Rawle
Fair point but, in the end, a tool is a tool whether he’s owned more by Putin or Trump…
Inga Ashworth
Solovyov mouths off profanities and absurdaties almost every evening on Russian TV. He himself is an imperialst Russian fascist, the mouthpiece of what many nationalistic Russians dream about, but cannot achieve. He has been going on for years! Is it even a good idea that all of a sudden, we are sitting up and taking notice of his clownish diatribes?
Norman Peasant
It will help her electorally.
She’s great.
Shaun Nelson
Russian child murderering filth 😡
Russia. Non Nation led by child murderer No 1.
Putin.😡😡
Mike Kipper
Typical Third-world stuff from the Russians.
I’m a fascist myself and i like Meloni. She is exactly what Wilders, Weidel & co – aka ruSSian aSSlickerZ – will never be.
Putlerstan has no conservatives.
Only fascists and communists, with a small liberal faction; most of whom are forced to live in exile.
The filthiest scum to ever populate this planet calling someone else scum. That’s a sick joke.