Former Italian president and friend of Putin’s Silvio Berlusconi claims he could persuade Putin not to enter Ukraine if he were still president.
According to Italian Il Gazzettino Berlusconi claims he has tried to call Putin twice since the war began, but he has not received an answer. He claimed he wanted to ask Putin to stop the war.
– We are very good friends, but I haven’t heard from him lately, Berlusconi said according to the newspaper.
Friends
The friendship between Putin and Berlusconi dates back many years. Among other things, Putin has visited Berlusconi’s famous flower party, and the two have visited each other several times.
In 2008, Vladimir Putin presented Berlusconi with a specially designed blanket with a full-scale image of the two printed.
The scandal-ridden Italian politician has also previously made proposals about Russia’s war in Ukraine.
However, at that moment, the tone was different.
Support the invasion of Crimea
Berlusconi actively supports Putin’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine under international law, and is one of the few Western politicians to have visited Crimea since it came under Russian control.
In 2015, he called the annexation of Crimea a “democratic decision of the people”, according to Reuters. In the same breath, he described Putin as “the greatest political leader in the world.”
However, in April, Berlusconi resigned and distanced himself from Putin’s war of invasion of Ukraine.
According to The Independent, Berlusconi said he was disappointed and saddened by Putin’s behavior.
“Hardcore zombie fan. Incurable internet advocate. Subtly charming problem solver. Freelance twitter ninja.”
