Mellon: Italy will not bow to Putin blackmail

To surrender to Putin's energy blackmail would not solve the problem, would exacerbate the situation by paving the way for further requests and blackmail”, Mellon said in her first speech in the House of Commons.

We remember that her government is supported by Silvio Berlusconi's party, apparently a close friend of the Russian president. Speaking in Italy's parliament, the first woman prime minister in the country's history added that her government, which was sworn in at the weekend, would seek to increase financial support for households and businesses hit by the energy crisis.

She also stressed that she is convinced that the country's president must be elected directly by the people.

Melon said her government would have to spend much to reduce the impact of the energy price crisis, which means it would have to delay some of the 2023 budget measures, expected to be approved next month.