Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was received by the Russian president on February 25, but that meeting had been planned for some time.
In Bennet’s case, his 45-minute face-to-face with the Russian president took place after the Ukrainian authorities asked Israel to act as an intermediary with Russia.
Israel adopted a cautious position after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, with the aim of preserving its cooperation with Russia, which maintains a significant military presence in Syria, a neighboring country of the Jewish state.
Unlike Western leaders, the Israeli government did not strongly condemn the Russian invasion or announce sanctions. Few details were leaked about the discussions between Bennet and Putin.
According to the Kremlin, They discussed “different aspects of the situation in Ukraine in the framework of Russia’s special military operation to protect Donbas,” a pro-Russian separatist region in eastern Ukraine.
Before the meeting, the Israeli leader “had coordinated with the United States, Germany and France,” the prime minister’s cabinet said.
The Elysee confirmed that the French president, Emmanuel Macronspoke “with the Israeli prime minister this morning before he traveled to Moscow, with the aim of coordinating efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The importance given by Bennet to this intermediary role was reflected in the fact that he made an exception in his custom of not participating in official acts on the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest for Jews. However, According to analysts, the chances of Bennett influencing Putin’s position seem limited.
The editor-in-chief of the digital newspaper The Times of Israel highlighted in an editorial that the prime minister has put Israel “at the center of the international scene”, but wondered to what extent “he will be able to contribute in one way or another to limiting the activity Russian military”. “Putin doesn’t seem to be a man of compromise. Will Israel’s prime minister … change this?”he added.
“Everything will depend on Putin’s intentions. Before the war, he ignored Emmanuel Macron. But Russia is now in a different position and perhaps trying to find a way out,” he told AFP. Michael Orenformer Israeli ambassador to the United States.
In addition to the war in Ukraine, Bennett and Putin also discussed Iran and the negotiations in Vienna on the Iranian Nuclear Deal, according to the Prime Minister’s office.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
