Former PM Naftali Bennett became an unlikely intermediary in the war’s first weeks, becoming one of the few Western leaders to meet President Vladimir Putin in a snap trip to Moscow last March
Vladimir Putin. Pic/AFP
A former Israeli prime minister who served briefly as a mediator at the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine says he drew a promise from the Russian president not to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
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Former PM Naftali Bennett became an unlikely intermediary in the war’s first weeks, becoming one of the few Western leaders to meet President Vladimir Putin in a snap trip to Moscow last March.
Bennett’s remarks, in an interview posted online late Saturday, shed light on the backroom diplomacy and urgent efforts underway to bring the conflict to a speedy conclusion in its early days. In the five-hour interview, Bennett says he asked Putin whether he intended to kill Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I asked what’s up with this? Are you planning to kill Zelensky?’ He said I won’t kill Zelensky.’ I then said to him I have to understand that you’re giving me your word that you won’t kill Zelensky. He said ‘I’m not going to kill Zelensky.’” Bennett said he then called Zelensky. “’Listen, I came out of a meeting, he’s not going to kill you.’ He asks, are you sure?’ I said ‘100 per cent he won’t kill you.’”
Also Read: Russia rejects reports that US offered Moscow secret Ukraine peace plan
Bennett said Putin had dropped his vow to seek Ukraine’s disarmament and Zelensky promised not to join NATO.
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