Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sparked controversy this week when audio released by Italian news agency LaPresse revealed the 86-year-old talking about his “re-established” relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Berlusconi says in the audio that Putin sent him 20 bottles of vodka and a “very sweet letter” on his birthday last month.
Your office has confirmed to CNN on Thursday (20) that the materials were authentic – apparently secretly recorded during a meeting of Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party in the parliamentary chamber on Tuesday (18).
“I sent him bottles of Lambrusco (Italian sparkling wine) and an equally sweet letter,” says Berlusconi in the LaPresse audio clip. He also says he has “reestablished relations with President Putin” and continues to boast that the Russian leader called him “the first of his five true friends”.
A party spokesman denied that Berlusconi had been in contact with Putin, saying the former prime minister was telling lawmakers “an old story referring to an episode many years ago”.
However, in the LaPresse audio, Berlusconi can be heard saying that Putin “was against any initiative” of war against Ukraine. The comments raised eyebrows among Ukrainian observers, as Berlusconi is expected to be part of Italy’s new coalition government led by ultra-conservative Giorgia Meloni – which has been steadfast in its support for Ukraine.
Berlusconi is also heard in the audio clip talking to members of his party and appearing to blame Ukraine for the invasion of Russia: no one attacks the other,” he says. “Ukraine throws this treaty into hell a year later and starts attacking the borders of the two republics. Both republics suffered losses among the military.”
“I don’t deny my old friendship”
The Ukrainian government in Kiev claims that the two breakaway regions are actually temporarily occupied by the Russians. Self-declared republics are not recognized by any international government except Russia and some of its allies.
“Desperate, the two republics… sent a delegation to Moscow… and finally managed to speak with Putin. They say: ‘Vladimir, we don’t know what to do, you (have to) defend us’”, says Berlusconi in the audio.
“(Putin) opposes any initiative (to attack Ukraine), he resists. (Later) facing strong pressure from all over Russia, he decided to invent a special operation: (Russian) troops enter Ukraine, arrive in Kiev in a week, overthrow the incumbent government, (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky, etc., and establish a government already chosen by the Ukrainian minority of good and common sense people, and a week for the troops to return to Russia”.
On the recording, Berlusconi can be heard saying: “He (Putin) entered Ukraine and found himself faced with an unexpected and unpredictable situation of resistance from the Ukrainians, who started receiving money and weapons from the West on the third day (of the war) and the conflict, instead of being a two-week operation, became a two-century war. So this is the situation of the war in Ukraine.”
He also doubts that “Putin and Zelensky can sit at a mediation table. Because there is no possible way,” according to LaPresse audio.
Berlusconi defended his comments in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Thursday (20). “Everything was taken out of context. He circled without knowing the overall meaning of my words. With the sole scope of spreading disinformation and lies,” he said.
“I do not deny my old friendship with Vladimir Putin, which brought important results, which were achieved in full agreement with our Western allies… But today circumstances have changed.”
*With information from Valentina Di Donato and Sharon Braithwaite
Source: CNN Brasil
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