Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, who acted as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of a special military operation, said that negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv were interrupted by Western countries. This is stated on Bennett's YouTube channel.

“My actions were coordinated to the smallest detail with the United States, and with Germany, and with France ... They broke off negotiations,” he said.

According to the former prime minister, Western countries at some point decided to "smash Russian President" Vladimir Putin, and not negotiate.

Earlier, Naftali Bennett said that Vladimir Putin promised him "not to eliminate" Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to conduct a military special operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the heads of the LPR and DPR.

The decision to conduct the operation was the reason for new sanctions against Russia by the United States and its allies.

Gazeta.Ru is broadcasting online.