« Berlusconi is a VIP agitator who acts within the framework of Russian propaganda, bartering Italy's reputation for his friendship with Putin. His words are damaging to Italy ».

The reply from Ukraine to Silvio Berlusconi's words was not long in coming.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian president Zelensky, commented on the departure of the leader of Forza Italia: «Berlusconi throw off the mask and say publicly that you are in favor of the genocide of the Ukrainian people» .

Yesterday the Cav in one fell swoop, breaking the electoral silence, attacked the Ukrainian president and Giorgia Meloni : «I would never have met this gentleman, I judge his behavior very, very negatively», he said, « it was enough for him to stop attacking the two republics of Donbass and this would not have happened ».

Not even an hour later Palazzo Chigi tried to restore order, without quoting Berlusconi's words: « The support for Ukraine on the part of the Italian government is firm and convinced. The position was clearly written in the coalition's electoral program and confirmed in all the parliamentary votes of the majority that supports the executive ».

Shortly after, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also intervened with a tweet: « Forza Italia has always sided in favor of the independence of Ukraine. On the side of Europe, NATO and the West ».

A harsh attack on Berlusconi also came from the leader of the socialists in the Eurochamber, Iratxe Garcia Perez: «I am horrified - she said - by Silvio Berlusconi's new shocking statements on Ukraine. Is this the position of the Meloni government and of Foreign Minister Tajani of Forza Italia? Does Manfred Weber have anything to say? One year after Putin's brutal war, it's time to acknowledge the facts and choose sides ».

(Unioneonline/L)

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