(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 18 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday Moscow was surprised that Italy is among the leaders of the international effort to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
    "It was a surprise for us to see Italy becoming one of the leaders in the anti-Russian front", Lavrov said in answering an ANSA question at a press conference in Moscow.
    The Russian foreign minister went on to say that he loved Italians and that Rome's stance against Russian aggression had been forced on it.
    "I like Italians, they are very similar to Russians, and Russians like the Italian way of life. I cannot see them as people who build walls and barriers.
    The attitude of confrontation (with Russia) has been imposed on Europe", and therefore also on Italy," Lavrov told ANSA at the press conference.
    Lavrov also said that Russia was being "subjected to a Final Solution, like the Jews".
    Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano responded by saying that Lavrov was guilty of a "stupid trivialization of the Shpah".
    (ANSA).