Putin congratulates Israel's Netanyahu on forming government and discusses Ukraine

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Russian President Vladimir Putin called Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to congratulate him on the formation of a new government and to discuss the situations in Ukraine and Iran, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office. "The two leaders discussed a number of issues, chief among them the war in Ukraine," the statement said. "Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu told President Putin that he hopes a way will be found as soon as possible to end the war and the suffering caused by it." "Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu told President Putin that he is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to curb its attempts to establish a military base on our northern border," Netanyahu's office added.