TEL AVIV, July 29. /TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to meet Vladimir Zelensky when both visited Washington earlier this week, Haaretz reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.

A source told the Israeli newspaper that Zelensky’s office had contacted Netanyahu’s office to arrange a meeting and that "the Israeli side never responded." Another source, from Ukraine, said in an interview with Haaretz that the meeting was initially proposed by the Israeli prime minister’s office, but after Zelensky’s office accepted the proposal no further response came from the Israeli side until July 28 when Israeli officials said the Israeli head of government would not be able to meet citing time constraints.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump held two separate meetings with Netanyahu and Zelensky. The two later attended the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham (on the Russian list of terrorists and extremists), where Zelensky approached Netanyahu and they held a short conversation, according to Haaretz. Netanyahu’s office refused to comment on the situation, the newspaper added.

Netanyahu and Zelensky last met in person at the UN General Assembly in September 2023. Soon after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Zelensky sought a visit to Israel in a show of solidarity, but the request was turned down, Haaretz recalled.