Russia’s Putin will visit Israel, officials say

Russian Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin in Kirishi, a town near St Petersburg in Leningrad Region, on March 23. Photo by REUTERS/Aleksey Nikolsky/RIA Novosti

Vladimir Putin, the president-elect of Russia, intends to visit Israel this summer.

The date has yet to be formally announced, the Israeli media reported, but will come after Putin’s May 7 inauguration.

Putin reportedly is interested in unveiling a monument in Netanyahu to Jewish Red Army soldiers who fought in World War II, Haaretz reported, citing a senior Israeli official.

A Putin visit last year was canceled due to a strike by Israeli Foreign Ministry employees.

Putin is scheduled to travel to the United States on May 20 for the G8 summit, where he is expected to meet with President Obama.

In a call earlier this month to congratulate Putin on winning the presidency, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Putin to visit Israel, Haaretz reported.