During a surprise visit to Moscow, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war. Bennett is in Moscow for a short working visit, the Kremlin said. “The situation around Ukraine is being discussed.” Bennett’s office also confirmed the visit.
Government circles in Jerusalem said the conversation lasted three hours. Bennett has coordinated with the US, Germany and France and is “in constant communication with Ukraine”. He also spoke to Putin about the situation of the Israelis and the Jewish communities in view of the conflict.
Israel is being discussed as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict. According to media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Bennett a week ago to organize negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Israel. Israel has good relations with both countries, but also finds itself in a conflict. It does not want to upset its main ally, the United States, but at the same time depends on Moscow’s goodwill for strategic reasons, including in the conflicts with Syria and Iran.