Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is again criticizing with statements about the war in Ukraine. If Zelenskyy had stopped attacks on the two separatist republics in the Donbass, the Russian attack on Ukraine would not have happened, the 86-year-old told journalists in Milan on Sunday.
“That is why I rate this gentleman’s behavior very, very negatively,” continued the boss of the co-managing Forza Italia. He urged the US to put pressure on the Ukrainian president. He also threatened to cut off Italian arms shipments to Ukraine, while promising a massive aid program if Ukraine agreed to an immediate ceasefire.
Berlusconi also said he would not seek a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while still prime minister. “I would never have spoken to Zelensky, because we are witnessing the devastation of his country and the massacre of its soldiers and civilians,” the politician said when voting at a polling station for the regional elections in Lombardy.
Putin’s friend repeatedly caused a stir
Berlusconi, who often boasted of his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin before Russia invaded Ukraine, had already caused a stir last September. At the time, he said Putin had been pushed into the war and wanted to put “decent people” at the political helm of Ukraine.
The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis said the Italian government “firmly and with conviction supports Ukraine, as clearly reflected in the government program and as confirmed in all parliamentary votes of the majority supporting the executive”.
Party friend disagrees
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, a member of Forza Italia like Berlusconi, said on Twitter (see above) that the party “has always stood for the independence of Ukraine, alongside Europe, NATO and the West”.
Source: Krone
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