The Russian invasion of Ukraine: some readings from Italian newspapers (20 February–5 March 2022)

Over the last two years, the metaphor of war has often been used in Italy when discussing the fight against the pandemic to describe the restrictions that have been introduced as a result, from lockdown to the Green Pass. Paradoxically, once the State of Emergency ended, just as we were on the cusp of the long-awaited return to normality (to 'peace' in a sense), Russia's sudden invasion of Ukraine meant war truly became part of Italians’ lives through the media. In this context, the positions taken by the major Italian periodicals (Avvenire, Corriere della Sera, il Fatto quotidiano, Il Foglio, La Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Mattino di Napoli, Il Messaggero and Il Tempo di Roma) between 20 February and 5 March have been analysed. What becomes clear through examination of the main articles is that the themes that would characterise the subsequent Italian debate - from a strategic, humanitarian, political, and economic point of view - were already present in the two weeks from the end February to the beginning of March 2022.