PM’s office confirms Bennett meeting with Putin at Kremlin

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is currently meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, his office confirms.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two have been meeting for the past 2.5 hours.

“The prime minister took off for Moscow early this morning, after the conversation between the leaders last Wednesday,” the statement says.

The Prime Minister’s Office says Bennett is being accompanied by Housing Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who is serving as his translator, along with National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata, diplomatic adviser Shimrit Meir, and spokesman Matan Sidi.

The statement does not include the word Ukraine or mention Russia’s invasion of the country.

Bennett, Israel’s first Orthodox premier, made the flight to Moscow on Shabbat, which observant Jews are barred from doing under Jewish law, though exceptions are made for medical or security situations in which life is threatened.