Eurasia Press & News
Israel has maintained a cautious stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even as it voted in favor of a UN resolution denouncing Putin’s assault
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday, just hours after the Israeli leader spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Russian media, citing the Kremlin, said they discussed the situation in Ukraine at Israel’s request.
According to the Kremlin, Putin told Bennett that taking into account Moscow’s security interests was among the key conditions for settling the conflict
Bennett’s office confirmed the call, but did not immediately comment on what was discussed.
The prime minister spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier on Wednesday, in their second call in less a week.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, they talked about Israel continuing its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Kyiv’s needs.
Sources who are familiar with the conversation added that Zelenskyy once again requested that Israel send Ukraine weapons, and he and Bennett also discussed the bombing of Babi Yar by Russian forces.
Israel has been wary to take sides since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began last week because of Putin’s near total control of Syrian airspace, but on Wednesday voted in favor of the UN General Assembly’s resolution denouncing the Russian assault alongside 140 other states.
Kyiv is still holding out hope that Jerusalem will eventually provide weapons and supplies to aid in Ukraine’s battle against Russian forces, even after repeated Israeli refusals.
Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Ukrainian Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk said that the question of weapons has been raised by Ukrainian officials on multiple occasions, most recently during a Friday phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
