Peace Talks in Jerusalem, Suggests Ukrainian President

Peace talks to end Russia’s war on Ukraine could be held in Jerusalem, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested over the weekend. Zelenskyy said in a briefing to reporters on Saturday that he already has ruled out Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus as sites for such negotiations. “These are not places where we can come to any understandings on ending the war – I’m not talking about technical meetings but meetings between leaders. I believe Israel can be such a place, especially Jerusalem. I think so, and I said this to Bennett,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had an over one-hour-long telephone conversation with the Ukrainian president on Saturday night, one of at least four conversations since Bennett traveled last Saturday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. Zelenskyy suggested that Israel’s rich history would make it an appropriate place to hold such negotiations. He noted that Ukrainian immigrants were among Israel’s founders, “who brought with them their history and their desire to build a great country, as it is now. So. it’s not bad at all for us to have such mediation.” Both Bennett’s office and Ukrainian officials have rejected as false reports that said Bennett has been urging Zelenskyy to give in and take a deal from Russia. No such deal has been offered by Putin, they add.