MOSCOW: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, officials said yesterday, amid concerns Moscow may be about to deliver advanced missiles to Syria. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the visit to AFP, but declined to give details, although he told the Interfax news agency it was being planned for next week.
The state RIA Novosti news agency, citing a diplomatic source, also said Netanyahu expected to call on Putin at his Black Sea residence in Sochi early next week.
“The visit is currently at the stage of active preparations,” the source was quoted as saying.
Israeli officials told AFP on condition of anonymity that the two leaders would meet “soon” but did not elaborate. “Netanyahu and Putin will discuss the Russian arms sales to Syria, in particular the sale of advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems,” Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported Friday. AFP
