The former Italian prime minister described the massacres in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns as “true war crimes” and argued that Russia “cannot deny its responsibility.”
Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi confessed this Saturday his “deep disappointment” with his old friend, the Russian president Vladimir Putin, for the invasion of Ukraine, on his return to rallies after more than two years due to the pandemic. “Today’s act has a special meaning because we meet again in person after almost three years,” he celebrated at his party’s convention, forza italyto the applause of his collaborators, followers and his partner, the deputy Marta Fascina.
As a backdrop to his speech was the invasion of Ukraine ordered last February 24 by Putin, whom the Cavaliere always considered a friend. Therefore, his opinion was expected and he had even been criticized for not referring to the Russian president.
However, Berlusconi acknowledged that he did not expect this aggression from the Russian president: “I cannot and I do not want to hide that I am deeply disappointed and hurt for the behavior of Vladimir Putin, who has assumed a very serious responsibility before the whole world,” he said, with the audience standing by applauding.
“We are facing an unprecedented aggression by a neutral country that is fighting for its freedom. An aggression against Ukraine that instead of bringing Russia closer to Europe, as I expected, will lead it into the arms of China. A real pity,” warned the Italian politician. Berlusconi assured that when he met Putin twenty years ago he “always” seemed to him “a man of great consensus, democracy and peace”.
Likewise, the former Italian prime minister described the massacres in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns as “true war crimes” and maintained that Russia “cannot deny its responsibility.” “In my opinion, on the contrary, in its interest, it should identify and prosecute those responsible for behavior that law and morality make unacceptable in times of war,” he advocated.
Berlusconi, whose party is part of the national unity coalition that supports Mario Draghi’s government, insisted on defending Italy’s permanence in the Atlantic and pro-European bloc.
For this reason, he urged Italy and the world to “do everything possible” to put an end to “the brutality of the war” and to achieve “an acceptable solution for all”, although yes, “naturally guaranteeing the freedom of Ukraine “.
“I have seen with growing disbelief, pain and anger, the tremendous and atrocious images that television broadcasts to us. Everything possible must be done so that this ends as soon as possible,” he said.
But he also encouraged the Russian Federation to “take a step in the right direction” with a “priority and fundamental ceasefire.”
In a national key, Berlusconi, often emotional, expressed his concern about the increase in energy prices but also about the loss of votes of his formation in recent years, which has put him behind far-right forces such as the Salvini League or the Italian Brothers of Giorgia Meloni, his partners.
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The Forza Italia convention was attended by his right-hand man, the former president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, or his girlfriend, Fasina, 53 years younger than him and whom he has “symbolically” married a few weeks ago.
The general secretary of the European People’s Party, the Spaniard Antonio López-Istúriz, also attended.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.