Israel’s new government must stand with Kyiv and send defensive weapons to protect its civilians against Russian missiles, Ukraine’s Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk said in advance of the anticipated conversation this week between the foreign ministers of both countries.
“This is the most important issue,” said Korniychuk.
In a conversation with The Jerusalem Post on Saturday night he underscored his country’s appreciation for the humanitarian assistance Israel has provided, adding, that this is not enough.
“Unfortunately, we cannot win the war with bandages and antibiotics,” he said. “We are in need of defensive equipment including but not limited to anti-missies and anti-drone systems,” he said.
“Israel has to be on the right side of history,” Korniychuk said adding that this is the only country in the democratic world that is not helping us militarily at all.”
Ukraine brought the issue up repeatedly with the last government, Korniychuk said. His country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of the matter in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just after the government was sworn in late last month but did not receive any commission on the matter.
Israel “knows exactly what we need,” Korniychuk said.
Iran drones sold to Russia should push Jerusalem close to Kyiv, amb. argues
In a virtual conversation with the Ukraine Media Center on Friday, he said that the Iranian sale of armed drones to Russia should help push the governments in Kyiv and Jerusalem closer together.
“After Iran actually had gone to war by providing Russia with its drones, the old Middle East adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” was confirmed. This situation should push Israel to cooperate more actively with Ukraine. What I believe in, actually, and we do our best for this,” said Korniychuk through a translator.
He referenced former defense minister Benny Gantz’s decision in that to send an early warning system that would help localize the alarm system for incoming missiles, which right now sends a more general alert.
Work is underway “related with the handing of the Israeli technologies developed in the area of early announcement [early warning] for rockets, missiles and drones… I think that shortly we will receive this technology,” Korniychuk said. But he later told The Post, that there was no date for this transfer.
He also explained that the Foreign Ministers Eli Cohen and Dmytro Kuleba introductory phone call had been delayed for technical reasons and that it was expected to take place this coming week, possibly as early as Tuesday.
Cohen spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this month.