Berlusconi says he exchanged items and ‘candy letters’ with Putin

Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi has stated he has rekindled his previous friendship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, exchanging items and “candy letters”, in keeping with a recording leaked on Tuesday wherein he additionally expresses dismay at Italy’s navy assist for Ukraine.

“Putin despatched me 20 bottles of vodka and a really candy letter for my birthday,” Berlusconi, who turned 86 final month, is heard saying within the audio recording printed by Italian information company LaPresse.

The previous prime minister, whose Forza Italia social gathering is a part of Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing coalition and set to hitch the federal government, tells a member of parliament from his social gathering that he responded with an “equally candy be aware” and bottles of Lambrusco wine, he says.

Forza Italia was fast to disclaim that the billionaire media tycoon had re-established his previous friendship with the Russian chief, with whom he as soon as had sturdy political ties and likewise spent holidays.

In a press release, the social gathering stated Berlusconi had been “reminiscing” along with his MPs about an episode from a few years in the past, not sharing latest occasions.

However within the recording, Berlusconi additionally frets about Italy’s navy assist for Ukraine, saying he was “very, very, very involved” at Italy’s powerful stand towards Moscow.

“The Russian ministers stated we’re already at warfare with them as a result of we provide arms and funding to Ukraine,” he’s heard saying.

He added: “I can not specific my opinion in any other case it will get leaked to the press and can be a catastrophe.”

Berlusconi’s claims to have exchanged missives with Putin come after days of tensions with Meloni over cupboard minister appointments that prompted him to explain the potential prime minister as “smug and offensive”.

His newest feedback — suggesting the rekindling of his bromance with Putin — will solely heighten simmering considerations about Italy’s future international coverage path and its strategy to the warfare in Ukraine, as soon as a Meloni authorities takes over.

Although Meloni has fiercely criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 2 allies on whom her coalition will rely — Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini of the League — are each longstanding Putin admirers who’ve made clear their discomfort with the EU’s powerful stance in the direction of Moscow.

On the marketing campaign path within the run-up to final month’s polls, Salvini complained repeatedly concerning the excessive value Italians are paying for sanctions towards Russia.

Simply two days earlier than the vote, Berlusconi appeared to defend the Russian invasion of Ukraine, telling a tv interviewer that Putin “solely needed to interchange [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelenskyy with a authorities made up of respectable individuals” however had then encountered “sudden resistance”.

Within the days after her election victory, Meloni spoke to Zelenskyy to reassure him of Italy’s continued assist for the combat towards Russia.

However many concern her dependence on her coalition companions will result in the federal government softening its coverage in the direction of the Kremlin, in distinction to the hardline stand towards the invasion taken by present premier Mario Draghi.

Forza Italia stated the social gathering’s place on “the Ukrainian battle and Russian duty is thought to all [and] is in keeping with the place of Europe and the US”.

Further reporting by Giuliana Ricozzi