Russian President Vladimir Putin called Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi a dear friend and an outstanding politician in a tribute to the former prime minister who died on Monday aged 86.

“For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations,” Putin said in a message of condolence.

Berlusconi will be remembered in Russia as a “consistent and principled supporter of strengthening friendly relations between our countries”, he said.

Berlusconi cultivated close relations with Moscow during Putin’s first years in the Kremlin from 2000 onwards.

Both Berlusconi and Schroeder became personal friends of the Russian leader and were criticised in the West for standing by him long after Russia’s 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

Berlusconi drew condemnation just before Italy’s polls last year when he said Putin had been “pushed” into invading Ukraine months earlier.