Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's wave of strikes on Iran, the Kremlin said Friday, following separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Putin "stressed that Russia condemns Israel's actions, which violate the UN Charter and law," the Kremlin said in a statement.
He also told Netanyahu of his "readiness to provide mediation services in order to prevent further escalation of tensions."
The Kremlin added that Russia was committed to "resolving the current situation, which is fraught with the most disastrous consequences for the entire region."
Earlier Friday, Russia had condemned Israeli strikes on Moscow's ally Iran.
“Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state, its citizens, sleeping peaceful cities and nuclear energy infrastructure are categorically unacceptable,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
“The international community cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such acts of aggression, which threaten peace and undermine both regional and global security,” the ministry said in a statement.
“What makes the situation especially cynical is that these Israeli attacks took place in the midst of an IAEA Board of Governors session and just before another round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States,” it added.
Russia’s Embassy in Israel “strongly recommended” that Russian citizens avoid traveling to the country and advised those already there to leave if possible.
Russian diplomatic missions in Iran and Egypt also issued travel advisories, urging caution amid fears of further strikes by Israel, as well as retaliatory attacks by Iran.
Major Russian airlines, including Aeroflot and Red Wings, announced flight cancellations and rerouted services across the Middle East on Thursday due to airspace closures and safety concerns.
Russia’s civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia later banned the country’s airlines from entering airspace above Israel, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until June 26.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overnight assault, dubbed “Rising Lion,” aimed to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival,” and warned that the campaign could last “many days.”
AFP contributed reporting.
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