Ukraine summons Israel’s ambassador – did ships ship grain from occupied territories? | EUROtoday

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in Kiev has summoned the Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky. The background is the accusation of sourcing grain from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. “Friendly relations between Ukraine and Israel have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade in stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them,” Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X.

Despite Ukrainian warnings, a second ship with “stolen goods” has already arrived within the Israeli port of Haifa. “We warn Israel again not to accept the stolen grain and thereby damage our relations,” Sybiha added.

Israel responded instantly to the allegations. “Assertions are not evidence,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar additionally wrote on X. He warned that diplomatic relations shouldn’t be performed on social networks or media. “They didn’t even file a request for legal assistance,” he wrote. The matter is being reviewed by the Israeli authorities.

Almost a fifth of Ukraine’s territory has been below Moscow’s management since Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and its invasion in 2022. Ukraine considers commerce in items from the occupied territories to be unlawful. Israel’s relations with Russia are predominantly pragmatic, particularly within the context of Russia’s presence within the Middle East. However, Moscow’s proximity to Israel’s arch-enemy Iran and its allies is inflicting tensions.