Israel says Vladimir Putin apologized for Sergey Lavrov's words

Before that, the Kremlin reported on the conversation between Putin and Bennett. During the conversation, Putin warmly congratulated Bennett and the people of Israel on Independence Day. The politicians expressed mutual interest in developing friendly relations and maintaining useful contacts between the leadership of the two countries.

In addition, they exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. We touched upon the issue of the evacuation of the civilian population from the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol.

Separately, the special significance of the date of May 9 for both countries was emphasized, which "carefully preserve the historical truth about the events of those years and honor the memory of all the fallen, including the victims of the Holocaust".

As for Lavrov's remark, Bennett accepted Putin's apology.

It's worth reminding that the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with the Italian TV company Mediaset, said that there is “Nazification” in Ukraine, “captured militants and battalions of Azov *, Aidar ** and other units wear... a symbol and tattoos swastikas, Nazi battalions". In addition, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that Vladimir Zelensky "puts forward an argument: what kind of Nazism can they have if he is a Jew". Lavrov's words are quoted on the Foreign Ministry website that "it means absolutely nothing, The wise Jewish people say that the most ardent anti-Semites are, as a rule, Jews. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid called these words "an unforgivable and outrageous statement, as well as a terrible historical mistake".

In turn, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar offered Lavrov to apologize.

*an extremist organization, a nationalist battalion, is banned in the Russian Federation, criminal cases have been opened against its fighters in Russia

** extremist organization, nationalist battalion, banned in Russia