Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Georgia crisis on Tuesday, a Russian government spokesman told the ITAR-TASS news agency.
The spokesman did not say anything about the conversation other than saying it was Berlusconi who asked to talk to Putin.
Berlusconi has been following the crisis from his Sardinian villa, where Putin has been a guest on several occasions.
The Italian premier will hold talks on Georgia with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Rome on September 5.
He is expected to welcome US Vice President Dick Cheney four days later.
Berlusconi flies to New York in late September for the United Nations General Assembly where he will meet US President George W. Bush.
A meeting with Bush at the White House is also possible, Italian officials say.
The Italian premier may fly to Moscow to see Putin in October, they say.
