Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was attempting to reduce tensions between US and Russia with US President Donald Trump’s knowledge, KAN News reported on Tuesday, citing sources close to the prime minister.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu spoke for the second time in the past week on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed.
Netanyahu’s office has been working closely with Russia in the past few weeks, according to KAN, in apparent efforts to resolve several different issues, including the tension between the US and Russia following Putin’s insistence on continuing the war in Ukraine.
Tensions have risen between Moscow and Washington in recent days due to Trump’s decision to send nuclear submarines to the area over the weekend. During that time, Netanyahu reportedly had two separate discussions with Putin.
Sources close to the prime minister told KAN that Trump had been briefed on those talks.
Trump orders two nuclear submarines to regions near Russia
America’s president had announced on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in regions near Russia in response to threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
“I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump and Medvedev, who is the deputy chairperson of Russia’s Security Council, traded taunts in recent days after Trump on Tuesday said Russia had “10 days from today” to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or be hit, along with its oil buyers, with tariffs.
Moscow, which has set out its own terms for peace in Ukraine, has shown no sign that it will comply with Trump’s deadline.
In April, Putin met with freed hostage Alexander Sasha Troufanov at the Kremlin.
Troufanov, who was abducted on October 7 and held hostage by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, met, along with his mother, Elena, and fiancée, Sapir Cohen, with Putin.
During the meeting, Russia’s president expressed shock upon learning that Troufanov had spent 498 days in captivity in Gaza. Putin said that Russia would continue working to secure the release of the hostages still held by Hamas, but urged Troufanov to “thank Hamas” for his release.
“Your release is a result of Russia’s long-standing ties with Palestinians, their representatives, and various organizations. We should thank Hamas’s leadership for this humanitarian act of freeing you,” Putin told Troufanov and those accompanying him.