A former prime minister of Israel contended in a recent interview that Western countries supporting Ukraine in its military conflict with Russia thwarted an attempt at peace talks.

Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, Naftali Bennett said his efforts as a negotiator between Moscow and Kyiv shortly after the outset of the conflict were almost a success, with both countries agreeing to concessions and a call for a truce.

“I think there was a legitimate decision by the West to keep striking (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Bennett said. “I mean the more aggressive approach. Basically, yes. They blocked it.”

Bennett said that his mediation in March, the month after the conflict started, was coordinated with the United States, France and Germany. But, after the conflict broke out, there was no unified approach how to address it.

“(Former British prime minister) Boris Johnson adopted the aggressive line; (German Chancellor Olaf) Scholz and (French President Emmanuel) Macron were more pragmatic, and (US President Joe) Biden was both,” Bennett said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram that it was “another confession” that the West was not interested in peace in Ukraine.