Vortex on friend Putin: Berlusconi shoots Volodymyr Zelenskyj First election voided due to interference: Berlin starts attempt No. 2

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi once again made headlines in his country with statements about Russia’s offensive war. The 86-year-old made it clear not only to journalists in Milan on Sunday evening that he saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj as responsible for declaring a ceasefire to achieve peace.

He also expressed his disapproval of the behavior of the now highly respected head of state in the West, blaming him for the “devastation” of Ukraine and the many dead soldiers and civilians.

Several media outlets published videos of Berlusconi’s statements. The head of the conservative Forza Italia party also reflected the purely Russian perspective when he spoke of the “two autonomous people’s republics in the Donbass”. Russia had annexed the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in violation of international law.

During parliamentary elections and the change of government in Rome last fall, Berlusconi repeatedly caused a stir with remarks about his friend Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, fueling fears that the new Italian government would seek rapprochement with Russia. Berlusconi’s Forza Italia is part of the governing coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Fratelli d’Italia and the right-wing populist Lega.

The government palace in Rome felt compelled to clarify after Berlusconi’s statements, as reported by the newspapers “La Repubblica” and “Corriere della Sera”. They unanimously quoted Palazzo Chigi as saying the government was “steadfast and convinced” of its support for Ukraine. (sda/dpa)