Bunga-bunga bromance: Berlusconi was one of Putin’s best friends in Europe

Their bright, often quirky baby, in which Berlusconi once presented Putin with gift sheets bearing the image of the two men shaking hands, often raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles.

The sheets were apparently Berlusconi’s response to revelations that Putin had once given Berlusconi an elaborate double bed, which was described in one of Berlusconi’s many complex legal proceedings.

According to evidence, an escort who was paid to participate in Berlusconi’s sex shows recorded a conversation in which Berlusconi told her to wait for him in a bed, which the woman later described as Putin.

Some have speculated that Berlusconi, a billionaire, and Putin, a famous billionaire, were involved in secret business deals. Others pointed to the expanding Russo-Italian trade relationship, particularly in the energy sector,

Political risks are mounting for Putin as Ukraine’s counteroffensive begins

Bonded by a shared amoral machismo, the two leaders were often seen together: at extreme combat matches in Russia, laughing at international press conferences and readying themselves for ski trips with Putin’s henchman, former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The two were also photographed drinking at one of Putin’s residences in big fur hats and holidaying together in Sardinia. Putin never asked me a favor, and I never asked him, Berlusconi he said.

The friendship, which seemed to be based on mutual self-interest as well as genuine affection, often caused scandal.

After Berlusconi resigned from office in 2011 amid several scandals, including allegations that he paid for sex with an underage sex worker (a charge of which he was later acquitted), Putin rallied behind him, claiming his Italian friend would not have judged were homosexuals.

Berlusconi is on trial for living with women, Putin told an audience at his annual Valdai conference of Russian and international foreign policy experts in 2013. If he were gay, no one would raise a finger against him.

In 2015, Ukraine banned Berlusconi from the country for three years after he accompanied Putin to visit Crimea, which Russia invaded and illegally annexed the previous year.

And last fall months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine turned Putin into a pariah on the international stage, a recording was leaked to Italian media in which Berlusconi boasted that he had rekindled ties with Putin.

Berlusconi said that Putin sent him 20 bottles of vodka for his birthday and a very nice letter, in which he claimed that Putin had called him number one of his five best friends.

The incident reportedly caused friction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who supported sending arms to Kiev and described the Russian invasion as an unacceptable large-scale act of war by Russia’s Putin.

In a tribute on Monday, Putin called Berlusconi a dear friend and an excellent politician.

For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend, Putin said in a statement. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced, insightful decisions even in the most difficult situation.