By TPS • 10 May, 2020
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and congratulated him and the Russian people on the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
The two discussed “the latest developments in the region, exchanged views on dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic and updated each other on the steps taken to halt the spread of the pandemic,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
The Kremlin said that Putin wished “good health and well-being to the Great Patriotic War veterans” who live in Israel.
“The two leaders emphasized the fundamental importance of preserving the truth about the events of the Second World War and counteracting attempts to revise its results and falsify history,” the Kremlin statement said.
Netanyahu noted “the decisive contribution of the Red Army to liberating Europe and defeating Nazism.”
“They also touched upon current issues on the bilateral agenda, as well as various aspects of the developments in Syria,” the Kremlin added.
The two have met and spoken by phone several times during the past years to coordinate activities in Syria, where Russia has placed significant forces and still backs Syrian President Basher al-Assad’s regime.
The IDF and the Russian army deployed in Syria maintain a line of communication to prevent clashes between the two militaries. Israel warns Russian troops of a pending strike in Syria of they are in the vicinity of the attack
Jerusalem is interested in Moscow curbing Iran’s operations in the country, as it has significant sway on the goings-on in the war-torn country.
Israel has significantly stepped up its strikes against Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria in recent weeks.