Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 8, ahead of the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. According to the communiqué issued by the Kremlin, the two leaders discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed on regular interaction and cooperation between the relevant Israeli and Russian agencies, including in research and development of a vaccine. They also discussed various aspects of recent developments in Syria.
The exchanges between Netanyahu and Putin on the occasion of WWII commemoration ceremonies have become routine in recent years. In 2018, Netanyahu was invited to watch the military parade in Moscow on that occasion, with his photo next to Putin making headlines in both countries. In January this year, the Russian president was invited to Israel for the ceremony commemorating 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz despite protests by Polish President Andrzej Duda over Israel preferring the Russian narrative on WWII events. The Kremlin's May 8 communiqué came back to that issue, stating, "The two leaders emphasized the fundamental importance of preserving the truth about the events of the Second World War and counteracting attempts to revise its results and falsify history.’’