The stances of the parties and social movements towards Putin’s war: a new line of division?

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is having an impact all over the world. Italy has often sought to balance EU responses with its national interests towards Russia but in contrast with the past, Mario Draghi’s government took an unequivocally firm stance towards the Kremlin. This article describes the historical origins of the so-called ‘privileged relation’ between Italy and Russia in order to understand better the emergence and development of pro-Russian parties in the Italian political system. How did they react to the war in Ukraine? What kinds of policies have the parties implemented since the start of the conflict? Is there any continuity with the Draghi government? What about the pacifist movement and its political representation? Engaging with these questions enables us to offer a general overview of Italian parties’ attitudes towards this international event in Europe.