Silvio Berlusconi has “reconnected” with Vladimir Putin and described himself as one of many Russian president’s “5 actual pals,” in line with an audio recording printed in Italian media.

The previous Italian prime minister was talking at a gathering of his Forza Italia get together in parliament throughout discussions on forming a brand new authorities, La Presse reported. Within the audio clip, Berlusconi says he’s frightened about Italy’s relationship with Russia as “ministers have mentioned that we’re already at warfare with them as a result of we offer arms and funding to Ukraine.”

He then provides: “I’ve rekindled my relationship with President Putin, a bit.”

In keeping with Berlusconi, the 2 exchanged birthday presents (Berlusconi turned 86 on September 29, Putin turned 70 on October 7).

“For my birthday he despatched me 20 bottles of vodka and a really candy letter,” Berlusconi may be heard saying within the audio clip. “I replied with bottles of Lambrusco and an equally very candy letter.”

He provides: “I’ve been considered one of his first 5 actual pals.”

In keeping with native media, Berlusconi denied the alleged resumption of relations with Putin. “President Berlusconi instructed parliamentarians an previous story about an episode courting again a few years,” mentioned a press release from Forza Italia, la Repubblica reported.

Forward of the Italian election late final month, Berlusconi defended Putin, saying the Russian chief simply wished to exchange Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s authorities with “first rate folks.”

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister in ready, has been at pains to distance herself from Russia, describing Moscow’s invasion as an “unacceptable large-scale act of warfare by Putin’s Russia towards Ukraine” and advocating sending weapons to the federal government in Kyiv.