Maxim Viktorov was under U.S. sanctions at the time and has since been sanctioned by the U.K. too. European Editor at Large The office of Prince Michael of Kent, the late Queen Elizabeth’s first ...

But Viktorov harshly criticized US President Donald Trump for his December 6, 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and for moving the American Embassy there in May of this year.

Viktorov also blamed the US for the unraveling of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that removed sanctions from Iran in return for the dismantling of its nuclear program.

Viktorov spoke during an interview with i24 News on Wednesday, claiming the statements coming from Israeli government officials are related to Israel's forthcoming elections.

Russian ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov criticized the State of Israel, calling the Jewish State one of the central problems in the Middle East. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post ...

Viktorov also discussed with i24NEWS the recent implementation of a government decision to allow those vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V into Israel. "Of course we stand for mutual recognition of ...

"The problem in the region is not Iranian activities," Russian ambassador to Anatoly Viktorov said. "It's a lack of understanding between countries and noncompliance with U.N. resolutions in the ...