"Berlusconi is a VIP agitator who acts within the framework of Russian propaganda, he trades Italy's reputation for his friendship with Putin. His words are damaging to Italy".
This was stated by Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian president Zelensky, commenting to Repubblica on yesterday's statements by the leader of Forza Italia.
"Throw off the mask and say publicly that you are in favor of the genocide of the Ukrainian people", adds Podolyak, quoted again by Repubblica.
The reaction of the spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, was also very harsh, who wrote on Facebook that
"Berlusconi's senseless accusations against Zelensky are an attempt to kiss Putin's hands, bloodied up to the elbows. An attempt to demonstrate his loyalty to the Russian dictator"
.
Nikolenko also recalls having worked in Libya in 2010, when the then prime minister met Gaddafi and "kissed the dictator's hands to show loyalty: by spreading Russian propaganda, he encourages Moscow to continue its crimes and therefore has political and moral responsibility.
On the other hand, we greatly appreciate Meloni's prompt response, who reaffirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine'
.
Today, those of the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, were added to the premier's clarifications.
"The government's position is always the
same. Berlusconi is a man of peace, he certainly hasn't changed his positions in support of Ukraine, NATO and the West.
We have always voted in the same way and we will continue to vote in this way" , he said, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the academic year of the Carabinieri Officers School in Rome.
Present at the same ceremony, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto commented on his behalf that
"the acts of this government speak for themselves, those approved by this Parliament and by all the political forces. Italy's position cannot be questioned and is not questioned by any force, neither the majority nor a large part of the 'opposition".
"There is no compromise of the granite will and conviction of the Government to be on the right side which is that part of the attacked and not the aggressors. Then any opinion is authoritative and is legitimate in a democratic state but the government, and I think it
was clear before and after, has no possibility of second thoughts and no cracking of the firm and granite conviction on support for Europe, NATO and Ukraine for what has been an aggression that is contrary to our principles and our values".
Thus the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi.
"I am absolutely certain that Italy's support for Ukraine will continue, I met Giorgia Meloni in Rome and her attitude towards Kiev is clear". NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this
at a press conference.
As regards the level of military aid given by Italy to Ukraine, Stoltenberg noted that certainly the Allies can "always do more" but Rome "has done a lot" and the joint effort with France for the supply of the Samp-T defense system.
Criticisms against Berlusconi have also reached the European level.
"I am horrified by Berlusconi's new shocking statements on Ukraine. Is this the position of the Meloni government and Forza Italia's Foreign Minister Tajani? Does EPP chairman Manfred Weber have anything to say?"
, wrote the leader of the socialist group in Strasbourg, Iratxe Garcia on Twitter, adding that "one year after Putin's brutal war, it is time to recognize the facts and choose which side to take".
For his part, the MEP of Renew Europe and president of the Conference for the future of Europe Guy Verhofstadt wrote on Twitter, regarding Berlusconi's statements, that
"this is no longer funny, he is actively weakening Ukraine... and Europe", adding: "When will the EPP kick him out?".
Asked about the declarations of the leader of Forza Italia, on the sidelines of the presentation of the economic forecasts of the EU Commission, the European commissioner Paolo Gentiloni replied:
"I think we have to look at the documents, at the decisions of the Italian government which up to now have
, I think, been very consistent and positive in support of the common European position on Ukraine",
specifying that "I do not comment on internal political dynamics and cannot comment on them".
In an interview with La Stampa, the leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate Simona Malpezzi, underlined that Berlusconi "said very serious things".
"The problem must now be clarified by the prime minister and the foreign minister", he explained, recalling that I, leader of Forza Italia
, "spoke of the autonomous republics of Donbass, and I would like to point out that the international community has never recognized them as such: there was only a few Northern League councilors who tried to recognize them".
And in a common note Massimiliano Iervolino, Igor Boni and Giulio Manfredi - secretary, president and board member of the Italian Radicals
- state that
"We said it over and over again but we repeat it: Silvio Berlusconi is Putin's 'Trojan horse' in Italy, together with Matteo Salvini (who, after the embarrassment of a year ago in Poland, sends Silvio forward) and Giuseppe Conte".