ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived overnight in the Black Sea resort of Sochi where he was welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the start of a three-day working visit.

Berlusconi, accompanied by his wife Veronica, was responding to an invitation from the Russian president with whom he enjoys warm ties.

The couple were greeted at the official presidential residence in Bocharov Ruchey by Putin and his wife Lyudmila.

The group talked briefly on the terrace of the residence before touring the house and grounds, giving Putin a chance to show off the pony that he had received as a gift on a visit to Tatarstan a few days earlier.

Then they went to look at ships riding at anchor off the coast before having dinner.

The two leaders were due to hold a first round of talks Sunday evening devoted to international issues. One of Putin's aides told Russian news agencies that the president would raise the question of when western forces would pull out of Iraq.