Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy claims Israel's support is limited by fear of Russian leader Putin

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine repeatedly expressed disappointment with what it perceives as a lack of support from Israel. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst that Israel "has been afraid of Putin," adding that he believes Ukraine "made a mistake on a political level" after repeatedly and unsuccessfully urging Israeli leaders for military support against Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin.

"It's my opinion, and I'm very honest about it, and I also spoke about it with European leaders and with the American administration, and I asked them to help me with Israel to give us support, especially with air defenses," Zelenskyy told Fox News.

In February 2023, the Ukrainian president urged Israel to deliver its advanced David’s Sling aerial defense system by equating Ukraine with David and Russia with Goliath.

“We have no alternative but to defeat the Russian Goliath. Being David is fighting and we are fighting. Being David is having a sling to win” Zelenskyy stated, referring to the famous biblical account from 1 Samuel.

“We do not have yet the David’s Sling from Israel, but I believe it is just temporary,” the Ukrainian leader added. However, Israel has yet to deliver any of its advanced aerial defense systems to Ukraine.

While Zelenskyy said he was disappointed with Israeli political leadership, he emphasized the strong bonds between the people of Ukraine and Israeli citizens.

"But it's a mistake on the political level, not the people," Zelensky assessed, adding that Ukraine "always had good connections with Israeli society."

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, approximately one million Jews immigrated to the Jewish state from Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet Republics. Israelis of Russian and Ukrainian descent make up a significant portion of the nation's total population.

Israeli leaders have sought to balance their support for Ukraine while preserving Jerusalem’s political ties with Russia, primarily due to Moscow’s military presence in Syria, where Israel frequently conducts operations against Iranian-affiliated targets.

However, bilateral ties between Russia and Israel have deteriorated sharply in the past two years.

Israel has increasingly joined the Western world in condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, Russia has increased its military ties with Israel’s arch-enemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The ayatollah regime has played a central role in both the Oct. 7 war against Israel and the Russian war against Ukraine. In November 2022, Iran admitted it had provided drones to the Russian military, which have been deployed against Ukraine.

Russia has also pledged to increase its military support for Iran in the conflict.

While Russia recognizes Israel’s right to exist, Moscow has displayed hostility towards the Jewish state since the Hamas invasion and massacre in southern Israel last October. Russia has refrained from condemning Hamas but has, instead, hosted senior Hamas officials in its capital.

In November 2023, Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya claimed Israel has no right to defend itself against Hamas as an “occupying power,” despite Israel withdrawing its troops from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

“The only thing they can muster is continued pronouncements about Israel’s supposed right to self defense, although as an occupying power, it does not have that power as confirmed by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice handed down in 2004,” Nebenzya stated.

Despite current tensions between Moscow and Jerusalem, Russia has offered to mediate between Israel and Iran. Last month, Putin stated that Russia maintains contact with both nations and is willing to facilitate dialogue if requested.