Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi stated that he was in contact with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and exchanged “pleasant letters” with him, according to an audio clip released by an Italian news agency.

According to Reuters, Berlusconi, 86, has often boasted of his friendship with Putin and drew backlash last month when he said Russia was forced to go to war because he wanted to put “decent people” in charge of the Ukrainian government.

“I contacted Putin again, in the sense that for my birthday he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very nice letter,” Berlusconi told deputies, according to an audio recording released by the agency. Lapress.

“I responded with several bottles of lambrusco (wine) and an equally sweet letter,” said Berlusconi, whose birthday falls on September 29.

He added that he was extremely concerned about the situation in Ukraine, but could not express his opinion, because “if this gets into the press, it will be a disaster.”

The comments came as Berlusconi is negotiating posts in a new government led by Georgia Meloniwho is expected to be appointed prime minister next week.

A spokesman for Berlusconi’s party denied he had any further contact with Putin, saying he was telling his deputies “an old story from years ago.”

OUR Forza Italy issued a statement saying that the position of Berlusconi and the party regarding the war “is in line with the position of Europe and the United States” and “there is no room for ambiguity and never has been.”

relationship between him Italy’s right-wing coalition And her Russia are under close supervision.

OUR Matteo Salvinileader of the League, praised Putin, even wearing a T-shirt with the face of the Russian leader.

On Tuesday, the newly elected chairman of the lower house Lorenzo Fontana, a League politician, warned in an interview on state television about the consequences of sanctions against Russia. “They could backfire and we could be in big trouble,” he said.

Reuters