Russian ambassador says Israel need not worry about Moscow’s ties with Iran

Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov on Thursday sought to calm growing Israeli concerns of Moscow’s cooperation with Tehran following the recent purchase and deployment of Iranian drones against Ukraine.

“Russia is not playing against Israel and I would like to confirm that we fully and totally are taking into account the legitimate security concerns of Israel,” Viktorov responded when asked about the drone purchases during an interview with Kan news.

Both Russia and Iran have denied the deployment of Iranian drones in Ukraine. But Israel, the US, and Ukraine have all said there is strong evidence of their use in numerous “suicide” bombing attacks.

The Russian envoy was also pressed as to whether Israel should be concerned that Moscow will assist Iran in obtaining a nuclear weapon as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently suggested.

Viktorov dismissed the charge, claiming that Zelensky “is saying many ridiculous things.” READ MORE