Italy–Russia relations

Italy–Russia relations

Italy	Russia

Italy–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, embodied in the so-called privileged relationship.

Russia has an embassy in Rome and consulates in Genoa, Milan and Palermo, and Italy has an embassy in Moscow, a consulate in Saint Petersburg, two consulte generals (in Ekaterinburg and Kaliningrad), and two embassy branches in (Samara and Volgograd). Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The relationship between Russia and Italy goes back a long way. Unlike many other Western European countries, Italy has traditionally always maintained good relationships with Russia, even during the Soviet era.

The governments of Benito Mussolini's Italy and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union recognised each other as de jure governments of their respective countries and established diplomatic relations on 7 February 1924 (shortly after the death of Vladimir Lenin). A preliminary agreement had been made on 26 December 1921, de facto recognising the Soviet Union. The two states signed a Treaty on Friendship, Non-Aggression and Neutrality on 2 September 1933, which was in place until 22 June 1941 when Italy declared war on the Soviet Union as part of the Axis powers of World War II.

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