Berlusconi "received 20 bottles of vodka from Vladimir Putin for his birthday and a sweet letter"

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reportedly admitted in leaked audio that Putin sent him "20 bottles of vodka" along with a "very sweet letter " for his birthday

Silvio Berlusconi claims Vladimir Putin sent him a case of vodka in leaked new audio (

Image: Getty Images)

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Vladimir Putin sent him a case of vodka along with a "sweet letter", according to leaked audio.

The outspoken leader of the Forza Italia party courted controversy last month when he claimed the Russian president had sought to put "honest people" in charge of Ukraine after the invasion in early November. year.

A longtime friend of Putin, he also said he was "pushed" to initiate military action, which has since claimed thousands of civilian lives.

Now a new audio recording released by Italian news agency LaPresse suggests the couple exchanged gifts and letters around the time of their anniversary.

The outspoken former Italian prime minister controversially claimed that Putin wanted "decent people" to lead Ukraine last month (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to other parliamentarians, Berlusconi reportedly said: "I got back in touch with Putin a bit, not badly, in the sense that for my birthday he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter.

"I replied with a few bottles of Lambrusco (wine) and an equally sweet letter."

He reportedly added that he couldn't give his true opinion on the war because "if it ends up in the press, there will be a disaster."