Ukraine makes demands of Israel ahead of visit by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen
Russia last week warned Israel against supplying weapons to Ukraine
Ukraine made a long list of demands it wants Israel to fulfill ahead of a planned visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to Ukraine this week and a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
The list of Ukraine’s demands on Israel includes a public denunciation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, expressing support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, developing anti-missile technology for its benefit and bringing hundreds of wounded soldiers and civilians to Israel for medical treatment.
Ukraine also wants a $500 million loan, a request that Israel’s last government already rejected. Cohen is reportedly only willing to offer one-tenth of that sum to Ukraine.
In October, Ukraine submitted an official request to Israel for the provision of its Iron Dome air defenses, despite Israel repeatedly refusing to give Ukraine any form of military equipment. Israel’s reason for this is reportedly out of fear of upsetting Russia and, thus, facing negative ramifications in Syria, where Israel is operating against Iranian targets.
Russia last week warned Israel against supplying weapons to Ukraine, saying it would escalate the situation.
“We say that all countries that supply weapons [to Ukraine] should understand that we will consider these [weapons] to be legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
According to a Ukrainian official quoted by Israel’s Walla! news outlet, a possible meeting between Cohen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is conditional on whether Israel would agree to fulfill Ukraine’s demands.
“The president won’t meet Cohen for a photo-op,” the Ukrainian official was quoted as saying.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
