(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President of Russia Vladimir Putin met for the first time, on Friday (22 October 2021) in Sochi, Russia, to discuss the situation in Syria and Iran, as well as to strengthen economic ties.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the start of the meeting mentioned "the wonderful mobilizing of the Russian nation and the Red Army to defeat the Nazis in the Second World War ... decisive days for the world and also for the Jewish nation."
He went on to iterate the responsibility "in the next generations, through discourse, through documentation, and through physical commemoration."
“On a personal note, as a student of history," Mr Bennett said, "it is impossible not to appreciate the heroism of the entire Russian nation during those difficult years."
He described Israel's soon-to-be-completed Chaim Herzog museum that commemorates the Jewish soldiers who fought in various armies during World War II, including 500,000 who fought in the Red Army, of whom 200,000 Jews fell.
“In Israel, we have a million ambassadors, Russian-speaking Israelis who constitute a great contribution to Israeli culture. They bring with them a mentality of hard work and strength. This is a very great contribution to the State of Israel," he said.
President Vladimir Putin then invited Prime Minister Bennett to visit Saint Petersburg, at the end of a meeting that the Kremlin described as "constructive."
Construction and Housing Minister Zeev Elkin accompanied the Prime Minister's entourage.