By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM, (Reuters) –Israel will keep trying to mediate with Russia and Ukraine, even if it seems impossible, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday following surprise talks in which he met Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine requested Israel to act as an intermediary. This was based on its good relations with Moscow and Kyiv. Bennett said that he spoke three times with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, in his office.

Bennett did not give any details about Saturday’s Kremlin meeting between Putin and Putin, but said that the Kremlin was blessed by all sides. This is a nod to the United States.

Bennett stated that he would continue to help wherever it was requested even though the odds aren’t great. “As soon as there is even one small opening and we can access all sides and have the capacity, I consider it a moral responsibility to do everything possible.”

They spoke on Sunday by phone and discussed Bennett’s most recent contacts with foreign leaders, according to the Kremlin.

Yair Lapid will be meeting U.S. Secretary Of State Antony Blinken, the office of Lapid said.

Israel condemned the Russian invasion in Ukraine, offered solidarity to Kyiv and provided humanitarian assistance. Bennett did not respond to Ukrainian requests for assistance, but he kept the channels open to Russia. Russia coordinates Israel’s operations against Iranian forces in Syria.

On Sunday, 90 children of a Jewish orphanage located in Zhytomyr, Ukraine were taken from Romania to Tel Aviv.

Bennett, who boarded El Al’s plane, said to one boy: “I am Naftali. The prime minister of Israel.” Before leading him away, Bennett kissed his forehead and told him that Naftali was him.

Bennett stated on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 that Bennett and Chabad-Lubavitch were with the group fleeing fighting and shelling for more then a week.

Ayelet Shahed, the Interior Minister of Israel, stated that Israel has 9.2 million people and was ready for an “very large wave” of immigrants triggered by conflict.

According to her, this would mean that more than 200 000 Ukrainians could be accepted if they are Jewish, or have Jewish family connections, as well as more 600,000. Russians, which is the exact same category.

A senior Israeli immigration official spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters and forecasted a smaller influx from Russia and Ukraine.

According to local media, this was done to stop Russian oligarchs fleeing to Israel in order to avoid sanctions. The Israel Airports Authority stated that it received instruction not to permit private planes to park longer than 24 hours.