Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had been preparing for today's trilateral summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed since his visit to the United Arab Emirates last December.

Bennett surprised the Israeli public March 5 when he showed up in Moscow in a bid to mediate between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Bennett also skipped publicity when he came to the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to meet with Sisi and bin Zayed, once again to discuss mediation among other topics. Bennett arrived in the Sinai Peninsula yesterday for bilateral meetings before the trilateral meeting today.

According to the Egyptian president’s office, the three leaders discussed “global developments” — an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine — and their effects on energy, market stability and food security as well as several other regional and international issues.

The Emirati News Agency said that the leaders discussed strengthening relations between the countries and the importance of cooperation and dialogue to achieving growth and stability in the region.