Israel to continue to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine while attempting to mediate: Minister

By Omer Faruk Yildiz

GENEVA (AA) - Israel will continue to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said Monday.

"We will continue to condemn the Russian invasion. There is no justification for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and killing innocent civilians," Yair Lapid said following a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riga, Latvia.

Israel has sent nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine so far, Lapid said, adding: "We will establish a field hospital in Ukraine next week."

Touching on mediation efforts by Israel between Russia and Ukraine, he said: "We continue mediation efforts together with Germany and France."

Lapid also called for an immediate cease-fire for establishing peace and initiating negotiations in Ukraine.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 406 civilians have been killed and 801 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to UN figures. But the international body has maintained that conditions on the ground have made it "difficult to verify" the true number of civilian casualties.

More than 1.7 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, the UN Refugee Agency said.