Russia (bbabo.net), - Former Italian Prime Minister and former head of the European Commission Romano Prodi warned in an interview with Corriere della Sera in Milan that Western sanctions against Russia would have an asymmetric effect, as well as adversely affect European and world economies.

According to Prodi, 82, founder of Nomism, a major economic research institute, if this situation continues for a few more days, global economic growth will seriously slow down and inflation will creep up. Prodi explained that the highest price for the introduction of restrictive measures against Moscow would not be paid by the United States, but by Italy and Germany, "because it is these countries that export most of their non-food products to Russia."

In this regard, Prodi also warned that China is in danger of occupying Europe's familiar place in the Russian market. “If serious restrictions are introduced on the export of industrial technologies, Italy and Germany will certainly suffer, and whether this will affect Russia remains to be seen. Undoubtedly, this loss will not be temporary and will not be limited to the period of sanctions, because Russian customers will replace our Chinese products, which will then be extremely difficult to displace," the ex-premier stressed, noting that the intensification of Russian-Chinese trade and economic relations has reached "impressive proportions."

Prodi also spoke negatively about Germany's decision to halt the certification of Nord Stream 2, openly calling the move "strange." "Now in the context of tensions in European energy markets, it is necessary to keep this channel open," urged the former Italian prime minister, who has repeatedly spoken out publicly against Nord Stream 2 in the past. Prodi is almost the only Italian politician and public figure whose opinion is heeded in the Apennines, who managed to break through to the local media in recent days to express a balanced position based on pragmatism and common sense.

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