A light-hearted diplomatic moment from New Delhi went viral after Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister, was seen serving risotto to guests at a special gathering during his visit to India.
The clip, widely shared on social media, shows Tajani standing behind a counter serving Italian food to visitors to the Italian embassy in Delhi. Dressed in a white apron over a black coat and blue tie, the minister personally served the yellow-tinted Italian rice dish to smiles and applause from the guests.
Tajani, who shared the video on X, said the event was a proud moment for Italy, noting that Italian cuisine has now been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He described the celebration as a tribute to Italian culinary traditions and Italians around the world.
The gathering was attended by diplomats, Indian officials, business leaders and cultural figures who highlighted how food can act as a bridge between nations. The gesture was widely seen as a symbol of the warm and growing ties between India and Italy.
Beyond the viral culinary moment, Tajani’s three-day visit has diplomatic significance. India and Italy are seeking to deepen cooperation across key sectors including trade, defence, clean energy, education and technology.
The video has since sparked conversations online about fine diplomacy — and how a simple plate of risotto can make international relations feel a little more personal.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statements about Europe during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Pravda reported.
Zelenskyy accused Europe of failing to take decisive action against Russia, particularly over what he described as inadequate action by the European Union against Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers.
“Europe likes to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today – the action that defines what kind of future we will have,” Zelenskyy said, questioning why former US President Donald Trump was able to block tankers linked to the shadow fleet, while Europe did not take similar steps.
The Ukrainian leader also claimed that fears of possible retaliation from Russia prevented the European Commission from moving forward with an original proposal to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan backed by frozen Russian assets.
In addition, Zelenskyi chastised European leaders for their handling of broader security issues, including their approach to Greenland, as he called for stronger and more united European action.
