NNA - Former Russian president and premier Dmitri Medvedev's threats to "eliminate" opponents of Russia are "extremely serious and dangerous" and fuel a campaign of hatred, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Tuesday. Russian Security Council Vice President Medvedev's statements that he "hates" opponents, whom he characterized as "bastards and klutzes", are "unacceptable words, which concern us strongly also because they come from the deputy president of the Russian Security Council," said the Italian foreign minister. "It is not a sign of dialogue, not an opening towards a cease-fire, it is not an attempt to find peace, but they are unequivocal words of threat towards those who are insistently seeking peace". Medvedev, seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin's right-hand man, said he would "do everything I can to eliminate those who oppose Russia". Di Maio added: "it is our duty to stop fuelling tensions with provocations and threats. I repeat: in order to achieve peace, overtures from Ukraine and the pressure of the international community are not enough, but we need Russia and Putin's will to dialogue. "The statements that come today, on the other hand, leave no doubt and dispel the search for peace on Russia's part. "Instead, they provide fuel fro a campaign of hatred against the West, against those countries that are seeking with insistence the end of the hostilities in Ukraine".—ANSA 

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