Israeli PM walks diplomatic tightrope between Russia and Ukraine

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has taken on the role of mediator between Russia and Ukraine after holding a three-hour meeting at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, then called the Ukrainian President, and later flew to Berlin for talks with the German Chancellor. 

Bennett has been walking a diplomatic tightrope since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, seeking to maintain neutrality between both countries with which Israel enjoys strong relations. 

The Israeli premier is coordinating diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire with the US, France, and Germany. Unlike his western allies, Bennett has not expressed a strong condemnation of the invasion, despite protests in Israel calling for an end to the war. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked Bennett to start talks with Putin to solve the crisis. 

During the meeting with Putin, both Ukraine and the Iran nuclear talks were discussed, with little information being divulged about the discussions. Following the meeting at the Kremlin, Zelensky confirmed in a tweet that Bennett had called him.

Bennett then flew to Berlin to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the two agreed they would attempt to “end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible,” AFP reported. 

Before the trip to Moscow, Bennett repeatedly held phone calls with Putin, Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Israel is home to a significant population of immigrants from Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky, also Jewish, has family in Israel and has visited the country numerous times. 

Russia has a strong military presence in Israel’s northern neighbor Syria where Putin has backed President Bashar al-Assad. Israel regularly targets Iranian and Hezbollah positions in Syria, where security cooperation with Russia is crucial. 

Bennett, a religious Jew, flew to Moscow and Berlin on the Jewish Sabbath however, his office stated that Judaism permits it during urgent circumstances.