The European Union is looking to Israel to help reduce its energy dependence on Russia, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"We want to boost our energy cooperation with Israel," the head of the EU executive said in a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

The EU, Israel and Egypt are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, von der Leyen added, according to which Israel will export natural gas in a pipeline to Egypt, where it will be turned into liquefied natural gas (LNG) then delivered to EU member states.

(With input from Reuters)