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Italian deputy PM calls for return to Russian energy imports

RT News · · 359 words · By Russia Today
Critique of EU Green Deal and Stability Pact Energy Security vs. EU Regulations
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.rt.com/news/638691-italian-deputy-pm-russian-energy/

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Name Calling / Labeling 60% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
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Appeal to Anger 70% confidence
Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

9 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 6
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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“Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has called on the EU to resume imports of Russian oil and gas, arguing that the bloc should prioritize energy security.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results confirm that Matteo Salvini has called for a return to Russian gas purchases to prevent an 'energy lockdown' [web_search] and that he is associated with the Lega party [wikipedia]. However, none of the provided evidence explicitly state that he called for the EU to resume *oil* imports, nor is there corroboration from multiple independent sources regarding this specific call. The evidence is primarily derived from web search snippets mentioning his calls regarding Russian gas.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Matteo Salvini (Italian: [matˈtɛːo salˈviːni]; born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022. He has bee…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Salvini
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lega (English: League), officially named Lega per Salvini Premier (English: League for Salvini Premier, LSP or LpSP), is a right-wing populist political party in Italy led by Matteo Salvini. The LSP i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lega_(political_party)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lega Nord (LN; English: Northern League), whose complete name is Lega Nord per l'Indipendenza della Padania (English: Northern League for the Independence of Padania), is a right-wing, federalist, pop…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lega_Nord
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The war in the Middle East has exacerbated Europe’s energy crisis, as disruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz—a key route handling around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows—have pushed oil prices up by as much as 70% since February.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources discuss the Strait of Hormuz as a major choke point for global energy trade [wikipedia]. Web search results link disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to global oil price volatility and energy market stress [web_search]. While the specific claim of a 70% price increase since February is not directly corroborated by multiple sources, the core elements—Hormuz disruption, energy crisis exacerbation, and oil price impact—are supported by multiple, distinct sources.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Iran war, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has led to what the International Energy Agency has characterized as the "largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_2026_Ir…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz () is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula under the Musandam Governorate of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Speaking at a “Patriots for Europe” rally in Piazza Duomo in Milan on Saturday, Salvini, the leader of Italy’s Lega party, argued that the EU Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and the “ideological monster called the Green Deal” were holding back the country’s economy.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results confirm that Matteo Salvini spoke at a rally in Milan and that he criticized the EU Stability and Growth Pact and the Green Deal [web_search]. However, the evidence does not specify that the rally took place on 'Saturday' or that he used the exact phrasing 'Patriots for Europe' or that the arguments were presented in the context of 'holding back the country's economy' with the level of detail provided in the claim. This specific combination of details appears to originate from a single source context.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 9 March 2020, the government of Italy under Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a national lockdown or quarantine, restricting the movement of the population except for necessity, work, and healt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns_in_Italy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Matteo Salvini (Italian: [matˈtɛːo salˈviːni]; born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022. He has bee…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Salvini
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sergio Mattarella (Italian: [ˈsɛrdʒo mattaˈrɛlla]; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician who has been serving as the president of Italy since 2015. He is the longest-serving president in the his…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Mattarella
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“He called for reversing the bloc’s ban on Russian energy imports.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results indicate that experts or political figures have called for the EU to reconsider or reverse plans regarding Russian energy imports, such as Eni's CEO suggesting reconsideration [web_search] and the mention of a historic agreement to phase out Russian gas imports [web_search]. This shows a recurring theme of calls to reverse or reconsider the ban.
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web search NEUTRAL — The European Union should reconsider its plans to progressively ban imports of Russian gas from the start of next year, the head of Italian energy group Eni says.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-should-reconsider…
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web search NEUTRAL — A historic political agreement to phase out Russian gas imports and prepare the phase out of Russian oil was achieved on the night of 2 December 2025 between the European Parliament and the Council. A…
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/repowereu-phase-out-rus…
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web search NEUTRAL — Economic pressure on Russia remains "the most effective weapon" to pressure it to end its conflict with Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday, when asked whether Europe should…
https://en.apa.az/europe/economic-pressure-on-russia-key-for…
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“The United States has temporarily eased restrictions on certain Russian oil shipments after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to “enemy ships” in response to US and Israeli airstrikes.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the context of US/Israeli airstrikes on Iran and the subsequent blockage/reopening of the Strait of Hormuz [wikipedia, web_search]. Furthermore, multiple web search results detail the US temporarily easing sanctions or issuing waivers related to Russian oil shipments following these events [web_search].
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and government sites, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials, and infli…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz () is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula under the Musandam Governorate of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“A license initially allowed the sale of oil loaded onto tankers before March 12 through April 11, and was extended on Friday to permit purchases of oil and petroleum products loaded as of that date until May 16.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results detail the extension of a US waiver regarding Russian oil sales. Specifically, sources mention the waiver allowing purchases of oil and petroleum products loaded on tankers as of a specific date, referencing periods like 'Friday through May 16' [web_search]. This consistency across multiple search results strongly corroborates the claim's details.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 2017 (MMXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2017th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 17th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russian war crimes are violations of international criminal law including war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide which the official armed and paramilitary forces of Russia have …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_war_crimes
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Russia and the United States maintain strategic foreign relations since the establishment 1991, a continuation of the relationship the United States has had with various Russian governments since 1803…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–United_States_relations
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“In January, the EU formally approved a plan to phase out Russian pipeline gas by 2027, overriding objections from Slovakia and Hungary.”
CORROBORATED
Two web search results report that the EU approved a plan to phase out Russian pipeline gas by 2027 [web_search]. Both sources also mention that Hungary and Slovakia opposed this decision, indicating corroboration on the key elements of the claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — In January, the EU formally approved a plan to phase out Russian pipeline gas by 2027, overriding vetoes from Slovakia and Hungary.
https://www.rt.com/news/638612-slovakia-sues-eu-russian-gas/
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web search NEUTRAL — EU's move away from Russian gas. On October 20, the EU Council approved by majority vote the launch of the REPowerEU mechanism, which provides for a phased and complete phase-out of Russian fossil fue…
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/eu-approves-plan-to-phase-ou…
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web search NEUTRAL — The EU first announced plans to phase out Russian energy imports in May 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In December 2025, a binding agreement was made for member nations to completel…
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/17/can-hungary-wean-it…
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“Hungary challenged the move in the EU’s top court in February, and Slovakia has said it will follow suit.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Hungary is challenging the EU's gas ban in the European Court of Justice, and that Slovakia is also involved in the dispute or considering similar legal action [web_search].
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web search NEUTRAL — The EU has banned the import of all Russian gas by the end of 2027. Hungary is taking the matter to the European Court of Justice — and some legal experts think it might have a chance.
https://www.dw.com/en/hungary-sues-the-eu-over-its-russian-g…
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web search NEUTRAL — EU countries last month agreed to phase out their remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027. All but Hungary and Slovakia supported the latest move, according to diplomats.
https://www.euractiv.com/news/hungary-to-sue-eu-over-russian…
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web search NEUTRAL — Hungary's government, which maintains warm relations with Russia, has a history of regularly blocking EU support for Ukraine, which has strained relations between Budapest and several other EU ...
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/08/27/hungary-sues-e…
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“Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico argued that the ban constitutes “a clear violation of all the principles on which the EU treaties are based.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
Although the topic of EU bans and Slovakian/Hungarian opposition is covered in other claims, there is no specific evidence provided in the search results or references to support the claim that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made the exact argument that the ban is a 'clear violation of all the principles on which the EU treaties are based.' The evidence count is 0, and no sources were found to support this specific quote or argument.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.