Silvio Berlusconi has called on the US president to offer Ukraine a ‘Marshall Plan’ in exchange for a ceasefire – Reuters

More recently, the 86-year-old politician admitted that “no one has solutions” to the conflict in Ukraine, except the pope. And last Sunday, after voting in regional elections in his native Milan, Berlusconi unexpectedly announced his “plan” for a peaceful settlement to journalists waiting for him at the exit. “I think the American president should take Zelenskyyy and say to him, ‘After the war is over, you have the Marshall Plan for the restoration of Ukraine at your disposal,'” Cavaliere told Roman Il Messaggero.

According to the politician’s calculations, “6-7-8-9 billion dollars should be allocated for these purposes, but on one condition: ‘For you to order a ceasefire tomorrow and from tomorrow we will not give you more dollars and no more weapons. It’s the only way to convince this gentleman (Zelenskyyy – editor’s note) to obtain a ceasefire.”

Commenting on the meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyyy on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, Berlusconi also said that in his opinion, it was enough for the Ukrainian president “to stop attacking the two autonomous republics of Donbass”, and then the escalation of the conflict would have been avoided. “Therefore, I assess the behavior of this gentleman (Zelenskyyy – Ed) very, very negatively”, declared the leader of En avant Italy.

Silvio Berlusconi’s words excited the media, the public, the opposition parties, but above all – the government, which includes the Cavaliere party. After calling Berlusconi a “victim of Russian propaganda”, the Italian cabinet reaffirmed its “firm and confident” support for Kiev, citing the fact that it has repeatedly been demonstrated in practice. Meanwhile, political scientists are trying to predict what consequences this political affair will have on the viability of this coalition.

“Berlusconi said what he thinks. This time, unlike the previous two, he may have said these words with a certain calculation, wishing to win over to his side the part of the electorate that supports Russia or shares its position. , as well as citizens who oppose Italy’s involvement in the conflict.

“I assess the behavior of this gentleman (Zelenskyyy – editor’s note) very, very negatively,” said Berlusconi.

Nevertheless, from my point of view, the statement of the ex-Prime Minister will not affect the work of the Cabinet of Ministers. I believe that in conducting foreign policy, the government will continue to act as a united front, supporting Ukraine. For example, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is a member of the Forward Italy party, does not share Berlusconi’s position, but is in solidarity with Prime Minister Meloni,” said Daniele Scalea, president of the Machiavelli research center, in an interview with RG.