Bennett said to be planning possible Kyiv trip

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has asked Shin Bet officials to prepare for him to possibly visit Kyiv for high-stakes ceasefire talks, the Ynet news site reports.

While a visit is still a distant possibility, talk of a possible trip ramped up over the weekend, according to the report, with Ukrainians pushing for Bennett to visit as a show of support for their cause, though Bennett would like to use the trip to push talks with Russia.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the annual Annual International Conference of the Institute for National Security Studies, on February 1, 2022. (Haim Zach/GPO)

Israeli security officials reportedly believe such a visit would be a security nightmare given the Russian bombardment there.

According to the report, Israeli officials have told Ukrainian counterparts that Bennett won’t make the trip “for a photo op” and will only visit if the sides are close to reaching a deal, to help push them over the finish line.

Bennett already visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to help mediate talks at the start of the war.

The Prime Minister’s Office says it cannot immediately comment on the report.