Russia summons Israeli ambassador over Tel Aviv’s anti-Moscow stance

The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow after Tel Aviv denounced Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

The summons came on Sunday after the Israeli regime’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid accused Russia of committing “war crimes” in Ukraine.

Lapid had claimed that Russia had “invaded” Ukraine, alleging that there was no “justification” for the military operation. “Russian forces committed war crimes against a defenseless civilian population. I condemn these war crimes,” he had said.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” aimed at “demilitarization” of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, the two regions declared themselves new republics, refusing to recognize Ukraine’s Western-backed government.

Russia has denied targeting civilians during the operation and has said it would halt the military operation instantly if Kiev met Moscow’s list of conditions. Moscow has specified some of the demands as protection of its interests and nationals in Ukraine and prevention of the ex-Soviet republic’s accession to the Western military alliance of NATO.

Earlier this month, the Israeli regime voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution suspending the Russian Federation’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council.

ME