In leaked recording, former prime minister additionally appears to defend Russia’s place within the almost eight-month warfare in Ukraine.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has mentioned he had lately reconnected with longtime good friend Russian President Vladimir Putin, exchanging items of wine, vodka and “candy” letters over his current birthday, in accordance with a leaked recording.
The LaPresse information company on Tuesday revealed audio of what it mentioned was a secretly taped speech by Berlusconi, who turned 86 final month, to legislators of his Forza Italia occasion that's set to hitch Italy’s new authorities as a part of a right-wing coalition led by Giorgia Meloni.
Within the recording, the media tycoon is heard saying he's again in touch with Putin who counts him as one in every of “his 5 actual pals”.
“I’ve reconnected with President Putin, rather a lot,” he mentioned, describing how the Russian president despatched him “20 bottles of vodka and a really candy letter” for his birthday.
Berlusconi mentioned he replied with bottles of Italian wine and a “letter as candy”.
The feedback made front-page information because the coalition headed by Meloni, who has strongly backed Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in late February, is divvying cupboard posts earlier than formal consultations this week to type a brand new authorities.
Forza Italia, the junior member of the coalition, is looking for to get the international ministry, amongst different portfolios.
Ukraine warfare
Within the tape, Berlusconi additionally once more appeared to defend Moscow’s place within the almost eight-month warfare in Ukraine, relaying to his lawmakers that Russian officers have repeatedly mentioned the West is at warfare with Russia “as a result of we’re giving Ukraine weapons and financing”.
It isn't the primary time Berlusconi has seemingly defended Putin. Late within the marketing campaign, he appeared to justify Russia’s invasion by saying Putin was compelled into it by pro-Moscow separatists within the Donbas area of jap Ukraine.
“The troops have been alleged to enter, attain Kyiv inside per week, change [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy’s authorities with respectable folks after which depart,” Berlusconi informed a late-night speak present on September 22. Later he backtracked, saying his phrases had been “oversimplified”.
Berlusconi’s workplace equally tried to disclaim his audiotape feedback in regards to the birthday vodka. A press release on Tuesday insisted that he had not restarted relations with Putin and that Berlusconi “informed an outdated story to lawmakers about an episode that occurred years in the past”.
Hours later, Forza Italia tried to distance itself from the feedback.
“The place of Forza Italia and President Silvio Berlusconi with respect to the Ukrainian battle and Russian tasks is understood to all and is according to the place of Europe and the US, reaffirmed on a number of public events,” the occasion mentioned in an announcement. “There are not any margins of ambiguity, nor have there ever been.”
Berlusconi has a protracted, pleasant historical past with Putin. He has entertained the Russian chief at his Sardinian villa and even visited Crimea with Putin in 2014 after the Russian chief annexed the peninsula from Ukraine.
Berlusconi’s newest feedback are prone to complicate relations with Meloni, who is anticipated to be tapped to turn out to be Italy’s subsequent premier.
Meloni’s far-right credentials and previous Eurosceptic views have raised eyebrows in some European capitals, however she has staunchly supported NATO and Ukraine within the warfare.
Relations between the 2 have already soured over Berlusconi’s insistence on putting a loyalist in her cupboard and over Forza Italia’s refusal to vote for her candidate for Senate president.
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