Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is negotiating the formation of Italy’s new government, announced on Tuesday that he has resumed his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who offered him vodka on September 29 on his 86th birthday.
“After a long time, I resumed relations with President Putin, who sent me twenty bottles of vodka and a very kind letter on my birthday. [vinho] Lambrusco and an equally smooth menu”he said during a closed-door ceremony with Força Italia militants, according to an audio broadcast by the “LaPresse” agency.
Berlusconi also revealed that the Kremlin leader considers him “the first of his five true friends”.
His political party has denied the statements, claiming it is “an old story told to militants about an episode from many years ago”.
The former Italian government leader also said he “couldn’t express his opinion” on Rome’s supply of arms and financing to Kiev.
“Russian ministers have said that we are at war with them because we are supplying weapons and funding to Ukraine. Personally, I cannot express my opinion because if it were told to the press it would be a disaster, but I am very, very, very worried,” he said. .
The conservative politician is taking part in the negotiations for the formation of the next government, along with his right-wing and far-right coalition partners, Matteo Salvini (Liga) and Giorgia Meloni (Brothers of Italy), is the latest winner of the parliamentary elections on September 25.
Salvini has been an admirer of Putin for several years and Berlusconi considers himself his friend, while Meloni, likely the next prime minister, is determined to continue supporting the Ukrainian resistance.
Berlusconi has expressed his views several times since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine on February 24, sparking controversy.
Source: DN
