Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday urged Israel to abandon its effort to maintain neutrality following Russia's actions, saying that time had come for the Jewish state to firmly back his country.  

Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, made the appeal during an address to Israeli lawmakers, the latest in a series of speeches by video conference to foreign legislatures. 

Ukraine wants to hold talks with Russia in Israel, Zelenskyy said, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wants to act as a mediator to organize talks between Ukraine and Russia.