PHOTO: Global Look Press/Mauro Scrobogna

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is reportedly "furious" after a conversation with Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetzov (Vovan) and Alexei Stolyarov (Lexus), who impersonated high-ranking African officials. The Affaritaliani website reported this on November 2, citing sources close to Meloni.

The publication states that the conversation between the Italian Prime Minister and Vovan and Lexus was a "sensational blunder that exposed Meloni to ridicule from the Russians on a sensitive issue such as the Ukrainian crisis."

According to the website, Meloni is angry with her advisors, specifically Francesca Talo. The department he led has taken responsibility for the incident.

"Action is expected in the near future, and it is possible that Talo's head will roll," the statement read.

Affaritaliani also noted that this incident could damage Meloni's international credibility. She risks damaging her relationships with US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as both leaders advocate for unconditional support for Kyiv. The position expressed by Meloni regarding being "tired" of the Ukrainian conflict may also not please French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the publication emphasizes.

The day before, the Russian pranksters released a recording of the conversation with Meloni online. In the conversation with Kuznetzov and Stolyarov, the Italian Prime Minister admitted that many are tired of the Ukrainian conflict and that soon everyone will understand that a way out of this situation is necessary.

She also told the "African officials" that Ukrainians have the right to celebrate the nationalist Stepan Bandera.

On the same day, former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte criticized Meloni for this conversation. The politician accused the Prime Minister of presenting a different assessment of the conflict in Ukraine to her citizens than the one she expressed to the pranksters.

(Izvestia/Roz)