Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi met at the Rome airport on Friday, where the Russian President headed after his official visit to Italy.
“They want to show you on Russian TV. Long time no see,” Putin told Berlusconi during a brief meeting. Berlusconi in turn answered: “Yes, I am gonna check it.”
The Russian president and former Italian prime minister are known to be on friendly terms. Putin called Berlusconi “a politician of global stature” in his recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
During his official visit to Italy Russian President met with Pope Francis, his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.