Israeli PM Naftali Bennett offers to mediate between Russia, Ukraine; speaks with Putin, Zelenskiy
In an effort to mediate the Ukraine crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Saturday and later had a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, informed Bennett's spokesperson said.
The Israeli Prime Minister arrived in Moscow on Saturday to meet Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During their three-hour-long meeting in Kremlin, Bennett also brought up the issue of the large Jewish community caught up in the Ukraine crisis, according to the Israeli source.
Israel, which has a large Russian immigrant community and is a strong US ally, has criticised the Russian invasion, expressed solidarity with Kiev and sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It has stated that it will remain in contact with Moscow in the hopes of resolving the situation.
Israel's Health Ministry also said that medical teams will travel to Ukraine next week to establish a field hospital that will serve refugees.
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Bennett is coordinating his crisis efforts with the US, France and Germany, according to an Israeli official.
Bennett travelled to Berlin after meeting with Putin, according to his spokesperson, for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
According to the Elysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron called with Bennett before flying to Moscow to brief him on his own meetings with Putin.
"They will keep in touch in order to attain a ceasefire," an Elysée official said.
Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.
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-PTC News
