Putin's vodka gift to Berlusconi flouts Russia sanctions - EU Commission

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Silvio Berlusconi at an airport in Rome, Italy July 4, 2019. Picture taken July 4, 2019. Sputnik/Alexey Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

ROME (Reuters) - The 20 bottles of vodka sent to Italy's Silvio Berlusconi as a birthday gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin breach European sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission said on Thursday.

Former prime minister Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia party is set to be a member of Italy's new coalition government, caused controversy this week when he said he was back in touch with Putin and had recently exchanged "sweet letters" with him.