The European right has always been quite favourable to Putin, especially after Russia started really clamping down on LGBTQ-rights, and also for his conduct during the Second Chechen War, since Euro-racism was redirected to middle easterners and muslims in general in the lead up to the Iraq War. Of course, now that it's become anathema to say anything positive about Putin, they know that they need to shut the fuck up. It's also why the only European leader that ever suggests lifting the sanctions that are currently fucking over the entire continent is Victor Orban, who is probably the most right wing guy on the continent. Italy's prime minister is too beholden to the NatSec state and I don't think she ever really gets to dictate her own foreign policy compared to what Hungary is doing.
The European right has always been quite favourable to Putin, especially after Russia started really clamping down on LGBTQ-rights, and also for his conduct during the Second Chechen War, since Euro-racism was redirected to middle easterners and muslims in general in the lead up to the Iraq War. Of course, now that it's become anathema to say anything positive about Putin, they know that they need to shut the fuck up. It's also why the only European leader that ever suggests lifting the sanctions that are currently fucking over the entire continent is Victor Orban, who is probably the most right wing guy on the continent. Italy's prime minister is too beholden to the NatSec state and I don't think she ever really gets to dictate her own foreign policy compared to what Hungary is doing.