Posted on 10/22/21
| News Source: Arutz-7
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday morning, at the resort town of Sochi along the Black Sea in southern Russia.
The visit is Bennett’s first trip to Russia since he was sworn in as premier earlier this year.
The meeting began with closed-door talks between the two leaders, with additional Russian and Israeli officials set to join in later, including Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata, Bennett’s foreign policy adviser Shimrit Meir, and the prime minister’s top military adviser, Avi Gil.
Minister Ze’ev Elkin (New Hope), who has in the past served as an interpreter for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during meetings with Putin, is also set to join the meeting.
Putin and Bennett are expected to focus on the Iran nuclear program, efforts to return Iran to the 2015 nuclear deal, and Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, near Israel’s northern border.
Putin welcomed Bennett at the opening of the meeting, saying that while there were a number of "problematic issues" to discuss, he was optimistic the two sides would find "opportunities for cooperation".
"We have many issues to discuss, and there are many problematic issues, but there are also many opportunities for cooperation, especially in fighting terrorism. Despite the political problems in Israel, I hope that the government will continue its good relations with Russia as they were in the past."
"We managed to have good relations with the previous [Israeli] government, and we are happy to welcome you here in Russia, Prime Minister of Israel."