The Italian government and diplomacy are working tirelessly to prevent the Russian takeover of Ariston, an Italian company with significant presence in Russia. This issue arose when Moscow decided to nationalize the Italian company’s Russian branches, including Ariston and German Bosch. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree transferring these companies temporarily to the Russian Gazprom Domestic Systems, a subsidiary of the state-owned Gazprom group that manufactures household appliances.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed strong disappointment at this decision and has summoned the Russian Federation’s ambassador in Italy to convey its concerns. The ministry has requested that Russia reconsider this action and stated that the reasons behind it have no legal basis. Italy has also coordinated with the European Union to condemn Russia’s actions, highlighting them as violations of international law.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani has been in contact with the affected companies and is exploring potential responses with G7 and EU partners. The Italian government is calling on Russia to reverse its measures against foreign companies operating in the country, and it continues to monitor the situation closely while collaborating with its embassy in Moscow and permanent representation to the EU.
On the other hand, the ambassador of the Russian Federation has placed blame on Italian authorities for escalating tensions, accusing them of prioritizing “sterile and dangerous anti-Russian geopolitical adventures” over national interests. Meanwhile, Adolfo Urso, Minister of Business and Made in Italy, is engaging directly with Ariston Group leadership to address this situation and work towards protecting both Italian and European companies affected by similar Russian actions. The Italian government is exploring new instruments within the European sanctioning framework to prevent such retaliatory measures from happening again.
In conclusion, Italy is taking all necessary steps to protect its interests in Russia while maintaining close ties with its European counterparts.