Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian Prime Minister who passed away at the age of 86 on June 12. Berlusconi, known for his charismatic personality and controversial political career, died at Milan's San Raffaele hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a lung infection related to leukemia.
Following the news of Berlusconi's passing, tributes poured in from politicians, sports figures, and international leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin, a longtime friend of Berlusconi, expressed his condolences and spoke fondly of their relationship. Putin described Berlusconi as "sincere and open" and praised him as a true friend of the Russian nation.
"He was a … European, one might say global politician. We do not see such people on the global arena often. He was a great friend of our nation and has done a lot so that we had friendly and … business relationships between Russia and European countries," said Putin, reflecting on Berlusconi's impact.
"He initiated the relationship development between Russia and the North Atlantic alliance. With his participation and with his initiative, appropriate mechanisms of interaction were created. But above all he was an Italian politician. For a politician, he was an extraordinary person as he was sincere and open man. And he had privileges that a politician of such a mass scale did not have. The privilege was that he said what he thought," Putin added, highlighting Berlusconi's unique approach.
"It's a pity. I want to express my sincere consolation and condolences to the Italian nation and to all of his close people. It is a great loss not only for Italy, but for the global politics as well," Putin concluded, expressing his condolences to the Italian nation and acknowledging Berlusconi's significant impact on global politics.
The friendship between Berlusconi and Putin was marked by personal visits and joint appearances. The former Italian Prime Minister had welcomed Putin to his Sardinian estate and accompanied him to Crimea during Russia's annexation of the region in 2014. In a leaked audio recording published by LaPresse in October 2022, Berlusconi mentioned reuniting with Putin and exchanging gifts of wine, vodka, and affectionate notes for his birthday.
Despite differing views on certain matters, including the Ukraine conflict, Berlusconi's friendship with Putin remained strong, exemplifying the bond between Russia and Italy. The two countries share a long history of cultural, political, and economic cooperation, which has shaped their relationship.
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