Jerusalem has been cautious these past few days over Israel's mediation efforts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, first reported just two weeks ago. Celebrated by associates of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the beginning, they now try keeping a low profile on the issue.

True, Bennett continues to juggle lengthy phone calls with the two leaders, and the Financial Times reported this week that Bennett “has been the primary international mediator on the talks.” Still, officials in Jerusalem are silent. “We did not brief the Financial Times,” one close Bennett aide told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “The report came from their correspondent in Europe and we have no reaction to it.” Meanwhile, reports persist of a Russian proposal — the gist of which was published here over a week ago — to Ukraine and progress in their negotiations. Israel is not optimistic at this stage and Bennett’s people are trying to downplay his role, perhaps fearing an expected failure that could tarnish his reputation, or as part of Israel’s stated “measured policy” toward both sides since the start of the war.

Even as Israel tries to downplay its part, Turkey’s mediating role and that of its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is growing, with offers extended to the two warring leaders to meet in Ankara or Istanbul. Bennett, who brought up the idea of such a summit in Jerusalem prior to the Russian invasion, is no longer keen. The Ukrainians, who expressed willingness for a Jerusalem meeting, are encountering evasive Israeli answers. For now, Turkey is in and Jerusalem is out.

Less than a year ago, such mediation offers would likely have set off a race between Jerusalem and Ankara for the lead role. These days, according to some reports, Jerusalem and Ankara are even believed to be coordinating their moves. This reversal stems from the major detente in their relationship since last summer, which peaked with the visit March 9 by President Isaac Herzog to Ankara and Istanbul. Erdogan pulled out all the stops in welcoming Herzog, publicly abandoning the comfort zone from which he used Israel as a punching bag whenever the need arose to firm up his political base. Judging by his statements, he is focusing, instead, on his country’s strategic geopolitical interests in light of major regional and international developments. In this arena, Ankara’s positions are far closer to Jerusalem these days than they are to many other capitals.