Israeli PM adopts the role of intermediary in the war between Russia and Ukraine

The Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennet, met this Saturday in Moscow with the Russian president, Vladimir Putinand spoke by telephone with the leader ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky, becoming an unforeseen mediator of the war that has been opposing these countries for ten days.

Bennett was the first international leader to schedule a face-to-face meeting with Putin Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraineon February 24.

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The first Minister Pakistani, Imran Khan, was received by the Russian president on February 25, but that meeting had been planned for a long time.

In Bennet’s case, his 45-minute face-to-face with the Russian president took place after the Ukrainian authorities asked Israel exercise of intermediary with Russia.

Israel took a cautious stance after the outbreak of the war on Ukrainein order to preserve its cooperation with Russiawhich maintains a significant military presence in Syria, a neighboring country of the Jewish state.

Unlike Western leaders, the government Israeli he did not strongly condemn the Russian invasion or announce sanctions.

In coordination with the USA, Germany and France

Few details were leaked about the discussions between Bennet and Putin.

According to the Kremlin, they talked about “Different aspects of the situation in Ukraine within the framework of Russia’s special military operation to protect Donbas”a pro-Russian breakaway region in eastern Ukraine.

Before the meeting, the Israeli leader “had coordinated with the United States, Germany and France”, said the prime minister’s office.

The Elysee confirmed that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, spoke “with the Israeli prime minister this morning before he traveled to Moscowwith 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.

Limited chances of success

However, according to analysts, the chances of Bennett influencing the position of Putin They 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 “it will be able to contribute in one way or another to limit Russian military activity.”

“Putin he does not seem to be a man of pacts. Will the prime minister of Israel (…) change this?”, he added.

Everything will depend on the intentions of Putin. Before the war, he ignored Emmanuel Macron. But Russia is now in a different position and maybe trying to find a way out.” explained to AFP Michael Oren, former ambassador of Israel in United States.

In addition to the war in UkraineBennet and Putin they also discussed Iran and the negotiations in Vienna on the Iranian nuclear deal, according to the prime minister’s cabinet.

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Source: Elcomercio

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