Russian President Vladimir Putin has paid tribute to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as “an outstanding politician” and “a true patriot”. Berlusconi died on Monday in Milan at the age of 86.
In a message sent to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and published on the Kremlin’s website on Monday, the Russian president said Berlusconi “will be remembered in Russia as a consistent and principled advocate of strengthening friendly relations between our countries”.
“He has made a truly invaluable personal contribution to the development of mutually beneficial Russian-Italian partnerships,” Putin said, according to the Kremlin.
“The most important events in recent Italian history are linked to the name of this remarkable person. Silvio Berlusconi always put the interests of the country above everything else.”
Putin’s message also touched on their personal relationships. “For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced and far-sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations,” he said, adding: “During each of our meetings, I was literally charged with his incredible vitality, optimism and sense of humor. His death is an irreparable loss and a great regret.”
Berlusconi drew criticism last year when an audiotape emerged of him bragging about having “re-established” his relationship with Putin, just months after the Russian leader ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Berlusconi tried to play down his comments after they were published. “I do not deny my former friendship with Vladimir Putin, which brought important results, which were achieved in full agreement with our Western allies… But today circumstances have changed,” he said.
A few months later, Berlusconi was among a small group of world leaders included on Putin’s Christmas greeting lists, along with the likes of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Syrian Bashar al-Assad and Hungarian Viktor Orban.
Source: CNN Brasil
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