Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held Kremlin talks with Vladimir Putin Saturday, the Russian president’s second meeting with a foreign leader since his forces invaded Ukraine last week. Putin received Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Kremlin on the day the invasion began, in a visit that was long schduled but widely considered ill-timed. In the meantime Israeli premier Bennett has so far not joined other foreign leaders in condemning the Russian offensive, stressing Israel’s strong ties with both Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has previously asked Bennett to mediate. A statement from Bennett’s office said the premier “took off early this morning for Moscow, after speaking with President Putin last Wednesday.
“An Israeli official said the Kremlin talks lasted three hours.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that Putin and Bennett were “discussing the situation in Ukraine.”The meeting appeared to be the first with a foreign leader devoted to the Ukraine conflict.Israel, home to a substantial population of Russian immigrants, has offered to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, though officials have previously played down expectations of a breakthrough.An Israeli official said Israel briefed Ukraine, Germany and France ahead of the meeting.
The Israeli prime minister traveled on Saturday from Moscow to Berlin to update German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennettwas meeting with Russian President Putin in Moscow, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamiya said in a Facebook post Russia and Ukraine will hold a third round of talks on Monday about ending hostilities.Last Thursday, the sides agreed to open humanitarian corridors to allow civilians out of some combat zones, although there have been delays in implementing them. /Argumentum.al
