(Jerusalem) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, the first visit to Russia by a foreign leader linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Posted at 12:19 p.m.
Updated at 12:58 p.m.
So far, Mr. Bennett has not joined in the chorus of international condemnation of the Russian offensive, underscoring the strong ties that bind Israel to Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine had asked Mr. Bennett to play a mediating role.
In Jerusalem, Mr. Bennett’s services initially indicated that the meeting ended after two and a half hours of discussions. But the spokesman for the Israeli prime minister later informed reporters that talks were continuing.
Mr. Bennett “took off early this morning for Moscow, after speaking with President Putin last Wednesday”, specified the services of the head of the Israeli government.
In Moscow, the Kremlin indicated that Vladimir Putin and Naftali Bennett “are discussing the situation in Ukraine”.
Mr. Bennett is a religious Jew who does not conduct official business on Saturday, the Jewish weekly day of rest, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Mr. Bennett’s visit is the first by a foreign leader linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine launched on February 24. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Russia the day after the invasion, but his visit was long overdue.