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.

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

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

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Just this morning, President Putin is in the newspapers talking about wanting to work with the West in new ways.

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He is cautious when talking of Russia's prime minister, Vladimir Putin.

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Putin said that while he was in favor with talking with opposition leaders, he would decide on the format.

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