BRUSSELS, Oct. 19 (EUROPE PRESS) –
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stressed on Wednesday the common position of the European Union condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine after learning that former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has “quite a lot” of contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin. .
At a press conference after the Tripartite Social Summit, Michel pointed out the “clear European position” of the Twenty-seven in support of Ukraine on all fronts in the military, economic, political and humanitarian spheres. “We condemn and do not accept Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine,” he stressed, adding that he hopes to work hand in hand with the future Italian government on this issue.
Previously, the community spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Nabila Massrali, has indicated that the Member States can maintain contacts while respecting the common positions of the EU.
“We have lowered relations to the necessary minimum, there is no prohibition on contacts with Russian counterparts, but the objective of the contacts is to convey the EU’s positions on illegal aggression and ask Russia to stop immediately and comply with international law”, the spokeswoman said.
Berlusconi has claimed to have returned to “enough” contact with the Russian president, “a person of peace and good sense” with whom he has recently been sharing gifts.
“I have been in contact with President Putin quite a bit again,” Berlusconi is heard saying in some audios published by the Italian agency LaPress. In them you can also hear the former Italian Prime Minister assure that if Ukraine enters NATO that would trigger a third world war.
