Each males professed to be shut, with Berlusconi defending Putin even after his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Russian president describing the media-tycoon-turned-politician as a “true good friend” after he handed away in June final yr.
In keeping with Cicchitto, Berlusconi accepted Putin’s supply to go looking regardless that he had by no means touched a rifle in his life. As soon as within the woods, the Russian president handed the Berlusconi a rifle and so they walked collectively within the snow.
When Putin noticed two deer, he urged Berlusconi to take goal. “That’s yours. Shoot,” Putin advised Berlusconi, Cicchitto stated. When the Italian refused, Putin shot each deer and gave him a happy look.
Putin then went down the slope, holding a knife. He quartered a beast and pulled out his coronary heart. He then had a person from his entourage give Berlusconi a wood tray on which he positioned the bleeding piece of meat, saying it might make an distinctive meal.
Berlusconi then hid behind a tree to throw up.
The previous prime minister nonetheless defended his good friend. “Perhaps it’s only a hunter’s customized,” Cicchitto recalled him saying.