“The so-called neutrality of the Israeli government is considered a clearly pro-Russian position,” Yevgeny Kornichuk wrote on his Facebook page.
Israel’s foreign minister said he would summon Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel after his comments on social media, claiming Jerusalem was pursuing “a pro-Russian policy.” “The so-called neutrality of the Israeli government is seen as a clearly pro-Russian position,” Yevgeny Kornichuk wrote on his Facebook page.
The Ukrainian envoy therefore noted “a rather controversial series of events that took place in the first half of 2023”. He notably called Eli Cohen’s trip to Kiev in February “unsuccessful” and accused Benjamin Netanyahu of making “entirely fictitious and speculative assumptions,” alluding to the prime minister’s fears that Israeli arms shipped to Ukraine might get into his hands of Iran could fall.
“Despite the complexity of the situation with Russia, Israel has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war. It has publicly supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, even voting in international forums to condemn Russia,” Eli Cohen told reporters on Sunday.
“Israel sent substantial humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2022, amounting to around NIS 80 million, and plans to increase its aid to the country in 2023. The missile warning system that we are adapting to Ukraine will also save the lives of the country’s citizens,” he added.