Ukraine asks Israel to help stop Russian invasion
HSMilitarycom: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to end the conflict with Russia.
Ukraine ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, said the Ukrainian government had been talking with Israel for the past year about a possible Russian invasion and asked Israel to act as mediator.
"Our leadership believes that Israel is the only democratic country that has good relations with both countries," Korniychuk said.
Korniychuk said Zelenskiy and Bennett had a telephone conversation. This is the fifth time Zelenskiy has asked Bennett to mediate in a conflict with Russia.
Previously, Zelenskiy had asked former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog for help.
"I heard (possibly) this offer was not well received by the Russian side," Korniychuk said.
A diplomat at the Russian embassy to Israel declined to comment. He said he was not authorized to speak to the media.
A spokesman for Bennett did not comment on the mediation request. It said earlier by the prime minister's office that Bennett's conversation with Zelenskiy did not mention any mediation.
"Bennett reiterated his wish for a speedy end to the fighting, and said that he stands with the Ukrainian people in these difficult days," said a statement from Bennett's office, adding that the prime minister offered humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.
Israel is very careful about publicly criticizing Russia. Because Russia is a major player in the conflict in Israel's neighboring country, Syria. They have offered refuge for members of the Ukrainian Jewish community caught in the fighting.
Israel condemns the Russian invasion as a serious violation of the international order. But since then, Israel has remained silent on Moscow actions.
"Israel understands the reasons that prompted the Russian leadership to decide to carry out special military operations, namely to protect civilians in Donbass, demilitarize and denazify Ukraine," the Russian embassy in Israel said.
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