Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin promised not to kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Moscow in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.
In a five-hour interview published on Bennett's own YouTube channel, he shed light on his efforts to mediate the conflict during its early days.
Bennett sought to bring the conflict to a speedy conclusion, but his mediation efforts had little impact on ending the bloodshed.
In March 2022, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Russia to act as a mediator in the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
During his visit, Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict and expressed concern over the safety of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin reportedly promised Bennett that he would not kill Zelensky, a claim that Bennett confirmed in a later interview.
The assurance came at a time of heightened tension and violence between Ukraine and Russia, with many questioning the motives of both leaders.
Bennett's mediation efforts did little to bring an end to the conflict, which continues to this day.
The story has been covered by several news outlets, with some emphasising the significance of Bennett's role as an intermediary in the conflict and others focusing on the promise made by Putin.