Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Isreali Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss the Ukraine crisis.
A statement from the Israeli side, said both leaders met for more than two and half hours.
The Prime Minister was accompanied on the trip by Ukrainian-born Minister Zeev Elkin, who joined previous meetings between Israeli prime ministers and Russia’s Putin, as well as National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata and senior political adviser Shimrit Meir.
The statement by the PM’s spokesperson said the administration of US President, Joe Biden was informed of the meeting in advance and supported it.
The meeting comes as several dozen protesters gathered outside Bennett’s home in the central Israeli city of Ra’anana, calling on the government to join Western sanctions on Russia and accept more Ukrainian refugees.
Bennett spokeperson said that the PM, a religious Jew, took a flight in violation of Shabbat law because Judaism permits this when the aim is to preserve human life.
Israel is home to a substantial population of Russian immigrants
Meanwhile, Isreal has offered to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and said it will maintain communications with Moscow in the hope of helping to ease the crisis.
The country has condemned the Russian invasion, voiced solidarity with Kyiv and sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Bennett had spoken to both Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin within a matter of hours on Wednesday. It was his second call in less a week with Zelenskyy who had once again requested that Israel send Ukraine weapons
