Former Israeli chief says he acquired a pledge from Russian president: ‘I received’t kill Zelenskyy.’
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says he acquired a promise from Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is not going to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
Bennett emerged as an unlikely middleman within the early days of Russia’s 11-month conflict with Ukraine, turning into one of many few leaders to fulfill Putin through the conflict in a visit to Moscow final March.
Whereas Bennett’s mediation efforts seem to have completed little to finish the continuing bloodshed, his remarks, in an interview posted on his YouTube channel late on Saturday, make clear the backroom diplomacy and pressing efforts that have been underneath solution to attempt to convey the battle to a speedy conclusion in its early days.
Within the five-hour interview, which touched on quite a few different topics, Bennett says he requested Putin about whether or not he supposed to kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I requested ‘What’s with this? Are you planning to kill Zelenskyy?’ He mentioned ‘I received’t kill Zelenskyy.’ I then mentioned to him ‘I've to know that you simply’re giving me your phrase that you simply received’t kill Zelenskyy.’ He mentioned ‘I’m not going to kill Zelenskyy.’”
Bennett mentioned he then referred to as Zelenskyy to tell him of Putin’s pledge.
“’Pay attention, I got here out of a gathering, he’s not going to kill you.’ He asks, ‘Are you certain?’ I mentioned ‘100% he received’t kill you.’”
Peacemaking efforts
Bennett mentioned throughout his mediation, Putin dropped his demand to hunt Ukraine’s disarmament and Zelenskyy promised to not be a part of NATO.
There was no quick response from the Kremlin, which has beforehand denied Ukrainian claims that Russia supposed to assassinate Zelenskyy.
A Ukrainian presidential aide disputed Bennett’s feedback.
“Ex-official’s claims on ‘mediation’ that Putin allegedly gave ‘ensures to not kill’ and ‘the West interrupted promising negotiations’ are fiction,” Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned on Twitter.
Podolyak mentioned Russia’s “particular navy operation” just isn't about NATO enlargement, safety ensures or sanctions, however somewhat based mostly on Moscow’s want to “destroy Ukraine and kill Ukrainians”.
Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba additionally commented saying Putin is “an skilled liar”.
“Up to now, Putin has made guarantees to not occupy Crimea, to not violate Minsk agreements, to not invade Ukraine, but he has completed all of this stuff. Don't be fooled … Each time he has promised to not do one thing, it has been precisely a part of his plan,” Kuleba mentioned.
Energy brief lived
Bennett, a largely untested chief who had served as prime minister for simply six months when the conflict broke out in February 2022, unexpectedly thrust himself into worldwide diplomacy after he positioned Israel in an uncomfortable center floor between Russia and Ukraine.
Israel views its good ties with the Kremlin as strategic within the face of threats from Iran, however it aligns itself with Western nations and in addition seeks to indicate assist for Ukraine.
An observant Jew and little recognized internationally, Bennett flew to Moscow for his assembly with Putin through the Jewish Sabbath, breaking his non secular commitments and placing himself on the forefront of world efforts to halt the conflict.
Nonetheless, his peacemaking efforts didn't seem to take off and his time in energy was brief lived. Bennett’s authorities, an ideologically various union that despatched present Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a short political exile, collapsed in June 2022 over infighting.
Bennett stepped away from politics and is now a non-public citizen.
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