Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is in talks to form Italy’s new government, admitted on Tuesday that he has rekindled his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who gave him vodka on his 86th birthday.
“After a long time, I resumed a little relationship with President Putin on my birthday [29 de setembro] He sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a loving letter. Retaliation with bottles [vinho] Lambrusco and an equally delicate menu”, he said, in a ceremony behind closed doors with fighters from Força Italia, 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 denied the reports, saying it was “an old story told to its militants about an episode many years ago”.
The former head of the Italian government also indicated that he “cannot express” his opinion on the supply of arms and financing to Kiev by Rome.
“The Russian ministers said that we are at war with them because they are supplying arms and funding to Ukraine. Personally, I cannot express my opinion, because if I tell the press it will be a disaster, but I am very worried,” he said.
The conservative politician is participating in talks to form the next government with his far-right and far-right coalition partners Matteo Salvini (Liga) and Giorgia Meloni (Brothers of Italy). September.
Salvini has been an admirer of Putin for years, and Berlusconi considers himself his friend, while Meloni, who is likely to become the next prime minister, has declared his determination to continue supporting the Ukrainian opposition.
Berlusconi has already expressed his opinion on several occasions since the Kremlin’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which has sparked controversy.
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