Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stressed on Thursday that Moscow “relies on Israel’s more balanced role and position” in relation to what is happening in Ukraine.
Bogdanov praised Russia-Israel relations and said in a press release that Russia “expects Israel to take a more objective stance on the conflict in Ukraine.”
But he added: “Some of Israel’s position on Ukraine has made Russia feel frustrated.”
On Wednesday, Israel announced that it had delivered 2,000 helmets and 500 protective vests to emergency services and civil society organizations in Ukraine following Kyiv’s request for supplies.
Israel, which mediated the Ukraine-Russia crisis, condemned the Russian attack, but limited its supplies to Ukraine with humanitarian aid.
Ukraine has previously expressed frustration with Israel’s refusal to provide what it sees as defense aid against Russia.
Earlier this month, Russian-Israeli relations were strained by remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was of Jewish descent.
Israel condemned the remarks, called on Moscow to apologize, and summoned the Russian ambassador to condemn Lavrov’s remarks in an interview with Italian television.
“Lavrov’s remarks are” shameful and unforgivable, a great historical mistake, and we expect an apology, “said Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.
Danny Diane, director of the Israeli Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, described Lavrov’s remarks as “an insult and a brutal blow to the real victims of Nazism.”
In an interview with Israel Radio Kahn, Diane said Lavrov had “published an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that has no basis in fact.”
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on May 5 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had apologized for remarks made by Foreign Minister Lavrov.
Bennett said in a statement after the phone call that he “accepted the apology and thanked Putin for clarifying his position.”
Source: Lebanon Debate
