(JTA) — Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released its first statement on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis there.

“Israel is following the events in Ukraine with great concern, worry for the well-being of all its citizens and hope that the situation will not deteriorate to the loss of human life,” the statement read. “Israel expects the crisis in Ukraine to be handled through diplomatic means and resolved peacefully.”

This is the first statement from Israel regarding the crisis since Russian troops invaded Crimea following the ouster of Ukraine’s president,  Viktor Yanukovych. The statement, according to Haaretz, came following pressure from the United States and leading up to a meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.

The statement did not mention Russia, perhaps reflecting Liberman’s efforts in recent years to strengthen relations between Russia and Israel.

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