OREANDA-NEWS. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called offensive for the Italian government reports on the political motivation of Russia, which provided Italy with assistance in the fight against coronavirus infection. “It’s an offence to the Italian government… and also to Vladimir Putin, who would never dream of using this as leverage,” Conte said in an interview for BBC, commenting on the question of whether Moscow provided its assistance in exchange for Italy’s support for the lifting of EU sanctions.

At the end of March, Russia sent 14 aircrafts to Italy to help fight the epidemic. They delivered military doctors and medical equipment.

The Italian newspaper La Stampa on March 26 reported, citing high-ranked officials, that 80 % of the equipment supplied by Russia was useless. It was also noted that Moscow’s aid is a geopolitical and diplomatic project of Russian President Vladimir Putin.