Relationship dossier
Italy
Russia
Relationship assessment
Longstanding economic ties have been sharply strained by Russia’s war against Ukraine and Italy’s support for sanctions.
Italy toward Russia
-35Italy has supported EU sanctions against Russia following its actions in Ukraine, including the 2022 full-scale invasion, and has provided assistance to Ukraine. These policies mark a sharp break from earlier Italian economic and energy cooperation with Russia.
Russia toward Italy
-35Russia maintained significant energy and economic relations with Italy, including cooperation involving Russian and Italian energy companies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting restrictions and disruptions to bilateral ties have sharply strained that relationship.
Overall relationship
-30The relationship combined years of substantial energy and economic cooperation with a major deterioration following Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Italy’s support for sanctions and Ukraine, alongside the constraints on bilateral engagement, now outweighs the earlier cooperative features.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Italy and Russia developed substantial economic and energy ties, including cooperation between Italian and Russian energy companies. The relationship deteriorated sharply after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and especially its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Italy has supported EU sanctions and provided assistance to Ukraine, while bilateral cooperation has been sharply constrained.
Areas of tension
- Russia’s war against Ukraine and Italy’s support for Ukraine
- Italian participation in EU sanctions against Russia
- Disruption and restrictions affecting bilateral economic and energy ties
Key developments
Italy and Russia developed a strategic partnership that included economic and energy cooperation.
Italy supported EU sanctions against Russia following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Italy supported sanctions and assistance to Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Major uncertainties
- The extent to which pre-existing bilateral economic and energy arrangements remain active is unclear.
- The future scope of Italian-Russian diplomatic and economic engagement is uncertain.