Silvio Berlusconi was the former Prime Minister of Italy and said that he was deeply disappointed in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a close friend over many years. The tycoon stated that Putin must accept full responsibility for the invasion in Ukraine.
Berlusconi spoke at a convention of his conservative Forza Italia party in Rome and said that he had met Berlusconi 20 years ago. I had always felt that he was a man of peace, democracy and justice.
These remarks marked Berlusconi’s first public appearance since Putin invaded Ukraine, February 24, 2014.
The Kremlin calls the operation a “special operation” that seeks to demilitarize its neighbor and “denazify,” a term Ukraine and its allies dismissing as a pretext to war.
Berlusconi once called Putin, now 69 years old, a younger brother. In 2015, he called Putin “undoubtedly number 1 among world leaders”.
They met in Russia and Italy and were photographed together laughing at each other during official visits.
Berlusconi, 85, was prime minister from 1994-95 to 2001–2006, 2008–2011 and 2008.
He stated, “The attack on Ukraine, instead of bringing Russia into Europe, has thrown China into its arms… What a shame!” It is a shame!
Reporting by Stephen Jewkes Editing by Frances Kerry
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