Mr Berlusconi said in 2009 that he helped resolve the conflict between Russia and Georgia by talking to Vladimir Putin on the phone and sending "the good Nicolas Sarkozy, who was my advocate some years ago" to talk to Dmitri Medvedev.

BBC: Silvio Berlusconi at 75: A birthday quiz

President Vladimir Putin has been talking nicely to Georgia recently, but there are no signs yet of deeds to match.

ECONOMIST: Georgia

Mr Putin has recently been talking to China about co-operating on another, larger plane.

ECONOMIST: Industry in Russia