LVIV: A top Ukrainian adviser and an Israeli official reacted on Saturday (March 12) to a media story alleging that Israel sought to steer Ukraine towards surrendering to Russian demands during discussions.
Israel has been involved in diplomatic attempts to bring the war in Ukraine to a conclusion. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to a story cited by Israel’s Walla news, the Jerusalem Post, and the US news site Axios, Bennett advised Ukraine to cave to Russia, citing an anonymous Ukrainian official.
“Israel, like other conditional intermediate nations, does NOT offer Ukraine to accede to any Russian Federation demands,” Ukrainian adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. “This is impossible due to military and political considerations. On the contrary, Israel asks Russia to conduct a more thorough assessment of the events.”
A senior Israeli source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity owing to the delicacy of the situation, branded the allegation “patently untrue.”
“At no time did Prime Minister Bennett encourage President Zelenskyy to accept a deal from Putin – since no such agreement was provided to Israel for us to accept,” the official added.
“Bennett has never advised Zelenskyy how to act, and he has no intention of doing so.”
Source: Reuters