Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone today (Sunday) with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he left the government meeting that was being held at the same time to conduct the conversation. According to the Prime Minister's office, the two leaders talked for about 50 minutes.
During the conversation, Netanyahu expressed his displeasure with the positions expressed by Russian representatives at the UN and other forums against Israel. It was also said that Netanyahu expressed strong criticism of the dangerous cooperation between Russia and Iran, as he said, "Any country that would suffer a criminal terrorist attack like the one experienced by Israel would act with no less force than the one in which Israel operates."
At the same time, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the Russian effort to free Roni Kariboy, an Israeli citizen with Russian citizenship, from Hamas captivity last week. Netanyahu made it clear to Putin that Israel "will use all means, both political and military, to free all our abductees." In addition, Netanyahu requested that Russia put pressure on the Red Cross in favor of visits and medicine for the hostages remaining in the captivity of Hamas.
This is the second time that Netanyahu and Putin have spoken since the beginning of the war in Gaza, and the first conversation between the two since the release of the hostages with Russian citizenship last week. The previous conversation between the two took place about a week after the Hamas attack on the southern settlements on October 7, when Putin condemned any harm to civilians and offered to mediate in order to bring calm between Israel and Hamas.
According to the Kremlin statement, Netanyahu and Putin discussed "the severe escalation in Israel. The president emphasized that he condemns the harm to Israeli citizens and Israeli families, and emphasized that he is against any action that harms women, children, and innocents."
