The Ukrainian chief sought assurance earlier than posting a video declaring he wasn’t “afraid of anyone,” Naftali Bennett claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that he wouldn’t have Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky assassinated, Bennett revealed to Israeli media. The former PM flew to Moscow on the request of Zelensky, who declared that he was “not afraid of anyone,” solely after Putin assured his security.
Bennet traveled to Moscow final March, in a failed bid to dealer an early ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. That journey was made on the request of Zelensky, he instructed Israel’s Channel 12 on Saturday.
With Russian forces surrounding Kiev, Zelensky was reportedly hiding in an undisclosed location on the time of the assembly. Bennett instructed Channel 12 that the Ukrainian chief had tasked him with securing an assurance from Putin that he wouldn’t be focused for assassination.
“Are you going to kill Zelensky?” Bennett requested Putin. The Russian president mentioned that he wouldn’t, to which Bennett once more requested for his phrase that he wouldn’t have the Ukrainian president killed. Putin gave his phrase, Bennett mentioned.
Bennett mentioned that he referred to as Zelensky instantly after leaving the Kremlin, telling him “he’s not going to kill you.” Zelensky requested for affirmation, and Bennett instructed him that he was “one hundred percent” positive that Putin wouldn’t have him eradicated.
Two hours later, Zelensky posted a video from his workplace in Kiev, explaining that he was “not hiding,” and “not afraid of anyone.” The video handle was described as “defiant” by Western media shops, but it surely was unknown till now that Zelensky basically requested Putin permission – by way of Bennett – to disclose his location earlier than making his assertion.
Bennett described Putin as “smart and sharp,” and a supporter of the Jewish individuals. However, he mentioned that the Russian chief’s demeanor turned chilly when Zelensky and his officers had been talked about, with Putin describing them as “Nazis” and “warmongers.”
The former PM – who shared workplace with Yair Lapid till stalwart conservative Benjamin Netanyahu returned to energy in December – mentioned that “everything” he did on his journey to Moscow was “coordinated with the United States, Germany and France.”
Bennett’s interview got here a day after French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre confirmed that President Emmanuel Macron “mainly” spoke to Putin by telephone on the request of Zelensky. Meanwhile, because the leaders of France and Israel carried his messages to Moscow, Zelensky himself publicly declared that he would by no means discuss to Putin, and forbade his officers from participating in any negotiations with the Russian chief.
