Russian President Vladimir Putin said
Thursday that the mutual fondness between Italy and Russian has
remained despite Rome's staunch support of Ukraine following
Moscow's invasion of its neighbour.
"'Despite what is happening now, we perceive a certain liking
for Russia in Italian society, just as we have for Italy," Putin
said in his end-of-year press conference, recalling his
friendship with late, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi.
"He was a person of very warm in relations, very industrious,
very tenacious",
Putin said of Berlusconi.
"He did a lot for the development of relations between Italy and
Russia".
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