Overview
During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen promised to “expand the level of aid” and help in the country’s post-war reconstruction.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that Cohen’s was “the first visit of an Israeli minister and a minister from the Middle East to Kyiv since the outbreak of the war.”
🇺🇦FM @DmytroKuleba welcomed in Kyiv his 🇮🇱 counterpart @EliCoh1.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) February 16, 2023
This is the first visit of an Israeli representative since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.#Ukraine is grateful to #Israel for provided humanitarian aid.
We look forward to deepening our cooperation. pic.twitter.com/ga34ciPOma
Zelensky expressed hope that Cohen’s visit would “contribute to the deepening of [Ukraine’s] cooperation” with Israel, adding that his country could use Israel’s experience in demining.
The Common Iran Threat
Calling Israel an “important partner in the Middle East,” Zelensky stressed that both countries “face similar challenges and threats,” in an apparent reference to Iran, which is providing military support to Russia and is considered to be Israel’s archenemy.
In this respect, Cohen later tweeted that Iran’s “terrorist activity in Ukraine must be condemned” and “severe practical steps” must be taken against Tehran worldwide.
The US has already imposed additional sanctions against Iranian drone company Paravar Pars earlier this month, for its role in producing drones being used by Russia against Ukraine; the EU is planning to announce additional sanctions as well.
Welcome to Kyiv, @EliCoh1. Ukraine is thankful for all of the support that Israel and Israelis have provided over the past year. During our detailed and frank talks, we focused on ways to enhance bilateral relations, increase assistance, and address shared security challenges. pic.twitter.com/e9SOIkbinc
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 16, 2023
Cohen’s Comments
During a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, Cohen confirmed that Israel would support Ukraine’s 10-step Peace Formula at the UN next week, assist in raising up to $200 million for the country’s healthcare and infrastructure initiatives, and help create a smart air raid early warning system.
“I am proud to stand with Ukraine in the face of these challenging times,” he remarked, without mentioning Russia throughout his visit. Cohen also visited Bucha and Babi Yar, where 34,000 Jews were killed within two days in 1941.
דגל ישראל חוזר להתנופף מעל השגרירות באוקראינה🇮🇱🇺🇦
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) February 16, 2023
לראשונה מתחילת המלחמה, פתחתי היום מחדש את שגרירות ישראל בקייב באופן מלא ורצוף, יחד עם השגריר @michael_brodsk.
אוקראינה היא ידידה של ישראל, והמשך הפעילות של השגרירות, ושל העובדים שפועלים כאן בתנאים מאתגרים, יחזק את הקשר בין המדינות pic.twitter.com/IJlxXQDN2R
In addition, he reopened the Israeli embassy in Kyiv, claiming that the “continued activity of the embassy” would help “strengthen” bilateral relations.
Background
Although Israel has condemned the Ukraine war, it has refrained from providing military support. Nonetheless, Russia-Iran’s growing defence ties have prompted Israel to rethink its position, as PM Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is “looking into” the kind of weapons that could be supplied to Ukraine earlier this month.
Furthermore, three senior Israeli officials revealed that Netanyahu has ordered a policy review of Israel’s response to the Ukraine war, and the possibility of providing military support to Kyiv, which will be led by the National Security Council, with contributions from the defence and foreign ministries, as well as Mossad.