Putin was ‘pushed’ into Ukraine war, says Italy’s Berlusconi

Forza Italia chief Silvio Berlusconi speaks throughout the closing electoral marketing campaign rally of the centre-right’s coalition in Piazza del Popolo, forward of the September 25 basic election, in Rome, Italy, September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

ROME, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin was “pushed” into invading Ukraine and wished to place “decent people” in command of Kyiv, former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has mentioned, drawing fierce criticism simply forward of Italy’s election.

The Italian chief, whose Forza Italia occasion belongs to a right-wing coalition anticipated to win the overall election on Sunday, is a long-time good friend of Putin and his feedback are more likely to alarm Western allies. learn extra

“Putin was pushed by the Russian people, by his party, by his ministers to come up with this special operation,” Berlusconi instructed Italian public tv RAI late on Thursday, utilizing the official Russian wording for the conflict.

Russia’s plan was initially to beat Kyiv “in a week”, and change the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskiy with “a government of decent people” and get out “in another week,” he mentioned.

“I haven’t even understood why Russian troops spread around Ukraine while in my mind they should have only stuck around Kyiv”, mentioned the 85-year-old Berlusconi, who as soon as described Putin as being like a youthful brother.

Putin’s acknowledged conflict goals have assorted throughout the seven-month conflict. Ukraine initially chased his troops from the Kyiv space, and extra not too long ago from components of the northeast close to the Russia border. Putin now says the primary goal is to safe territory in Ukraine’s Donbas area partly managed by pro-Russia separatists. learn extra

Facing widespread condemnation from opponents for his phrases, Berlusconi launched an announcement on Friday saying his views had been “oversimplified”.

“The aggression against Ukraine is unjustifiable and unacceptable, (Forza Italia’s) position is clear. We will always be with the EU and NATO,” he mentioned.

“TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS”

Under outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Italy has been a staunch supporter of Western sanctions on Russia following the invasion.

Giorgia Meloni of the far-right Brothers of Italy, tipped as the following premier, has pledged to stay to that place, however Berlusconi and her different ally Matteo Salvini of the League have been extra ambivalent.

“These are scandalous and very serious words,” the chief of the centre-left Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, mentioned about Berlusconi’s remarks. “If on Sunday night the result is favourable to the right, the happiest person would be Putin,” Letta mentioned on RAI radio.

Centrist chief Carlo Calenda, one other election contender, instructed Radio24: “Yesterday Berlusconi spoke like a Putin general. It is totally outrageous.”

Berlusconi mentioned on Thursday that Moscow’s resolution to invade got here in response to an attraction by pro-Russian separatists in jap Ukraine.

He mentioned their leaders had gone to the Kremlin and straight instructed Putin, “please defend us, because if you do not defend us, we don’t know where we could end up.”

Voting started on Friday in 4 Ukrainian areas principally held by Russian forces together with the separatists, the beginning of a plan by Putin to annex an enormous chunk of Ukraine. learn extra

Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Crispian Balmer

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