Russia is open to holding talks with Ukraine in Jerusalem, a senior diplomatic source said on Saturday, shortly after a phone call between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Russia has not rejected the idea of ​​talks in Jerusalem, the diplomatic source said, but Israel is not convinced that it should accept the talks.

When it comes to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's mediation between Russia and Ukraine, we don't force anything, the source said.

People need to understand that we will never put pressure on Zelenskyy in any direction, the source added.

This is not Bennett's initiative, the source added, saying that Zelenskyy asked to speak with Bennett on Saturday and has long seen Israel as a mediator in relations with Russia.

Bennett believes he will always answer Zelenskiy's calls and try to help if he can, the source added.

The source cited Zelenskiy's recent statements that he is ready to abandon Ukraine's attempt to join NATO, and Russia no longer demands the complete demilitarization of Ukraine. According to the source, this suggests that they are not trying to bring Ukraine to its knees as evidence that Ukraine and Russia are gradually moving towards an agreement.