Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi of deliberately trying to damage her international profile by way of his controversial comments against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“He does it on purpose. He does it to weaken me abroad,” Meloni said in reference to Berlusconi as she, according to La Repubblica, does everything to position Italy as the EU’s most pro-Ukraine country.
“For me the facts matter the most […] beyond some statements”, she added.
Berlusconi recently lashed out at Zelenskyy over his actions in Ukraine, triggering strong reactions worldwide. The Ukrainian leader repliedat a press conference in Kyiv, saying Berlusconi is unable to fully understand the struggle of Ukrainians.
The former prime minister reportedly decided not to respond, but according to Corriere della Sera, said behind closed doors that “It’s not true that I don’t know the war, as a young boy I was displaced as well. I lived through the horrors of war”.
The Kremlin did not miss the chance to attack Zelenskyy.
“In yet another fit of impotent rage, the bunker dweller lashed out at Berlusconi because the latter reminded the Kyiv regime of the Donbas,” commented Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Telegram.
Amid the debacle, Transport and Infrastructure Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini, a politician known for his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has chosen not to take a position on the matter.
Similarly, the League’s Senate group leader Massimiliano Romeo has put the brakes on sending arms to Ukraine, which was loudly guaranteed by Meloni.
He said although it was right to back Ukraine militarily, he warned against sending weapons that risk dragging NATO into a conflict with Russia, because that “would mean starting a nuclear war”.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who comes from Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party (EPP), spoke at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and tried to re-assure Berlusconi’s pro-West credentials.
“I want to be very clear: the Italian government, my party and the leader of my party are against Russia’s invasion and in favour of Ukraine’s independence. Every time Forza Italia, and also Berlusconi, have voted against Russia and in favour of Ukraine”, Tajani said.
Berlusconi “is a man in favour of peace”, he stressed, recalling Forza Italia leader’s commitment to transatlantic relations when he was Italian PM.
Tajani will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday.
(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)
Source: euractiv.com
