“We are ready to welcome any political forces that are able to go beyond the established mainstream, which is filled with hate for our country,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Meloni’s political allies in Italy have both made controversial remarks about Russia.
Silvio Berlusconi claimed last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “pushed” into invading Ukraine, though he later made clear Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was “unjustifiable and unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini has questioned Western sanctions on Moscow – something Meloni herself supports at the EU level.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s nationalist leader Prime Minister Viktor Orban has congratulated Meloni – whose rhetoric on the EU is close to that of the Hungarian nationalist leader – and her allies on the election results.
He added he looked forward to future cooperation over peace, the European economy, and the energy crisis.