Zelenskiy asks Israel to mediate with Russia – Center East Monitor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy requested Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday to mediate within the battle with Russia, the Ukrainian envoy to Israel mentioned, including that it was newest in a string of so-far fruitless requests from Kyiv, reported Reuters.

“We’ve got been speaking to the Israelis for a minimum of the final yr a couple of attainable middleman position for Israel,” Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk instructed Reuters. “Our management believes that Israel is the one democratic state that has wonderful relations with each nations.”

Bennett’s spokespeople weren’t instantly accessible for remark. An earlier assertion by his workplace about Bennett’s dialog with Zelenskiy made no point out of any mediation.

“Bennett reiterated his hope for a speedy finish to the preventing, and mentioned that he stands by the folks of Ukraine in these tough days,” the assertion mentioned, including that the prime minister provided Kyiv humanitarian assist.

Korniychuk mentioned Friday’s telephone dialog between the leaders was the fifth time that Zelenskiy had requested Bennett for Israeli mediation, and that he had beforehand requested former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Learn: Image of Israel’s Gaza onslaught being used to highlight Russia aggression in Ukraine

Following up with the Israelis after one of many earlier appeals, “I heard (that) this supply was not well-accepted by the Russian aspect,” Korniychuk mentioned.

Reached by Reuters, a diplomat at Russia’s embassy to Israel declined to remark, saying he was not authorised to talk to the media.

Whereas calling for a peaceable resolution in Ukraine, Israel has been cautious about openly criticising Russia, a serious participant within the battle in neighbouring Syria. It has provided shelter to members of Ukraine’s Jewish neighborhood caught up within the preventing.

Israel, whose most important ally is america, condemned the Russian invasion on Thursday as “a severe violation of worldwide order” and has since remained largely muted on Moscow’s actions.

The Israeli ambassador in Moscow was summoned for talks, the Russian embassy in Israel mentioned on Friday.

“The hope was expressed that Israel would deal with with due understanding the explanations that prompted the Russian management to resolve to conduct a particular army operation to guard civilians in Donbass, demilitarize and denazify Ukraine,” the embassy mentioned.

Opinion: Like it or not, Israel is being affected by the Russia-Ukraine crisis