The first trip of an Israeli diplomat to Ukraine after almost a year of war did not meet the expectations of the Kyiv government regarding the help expected from the Jewish state. During the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, the interests of the Beniamin Netanyahu government with respect to Moscow continued to be expressed, and that their main translation is a hot line that allows Israel to attack Iranian targets in Syria, a country allied with Russia. Israel has condemned the invasion of Ukraine but has not joined international sanctions against Russia and against Russian citizens.
Eli Cohen, as a Ukrainian official complained and Israeli media reported, did not even utter the words "war" or "Russia" during the mandatory guided tour that foreign politicians and diplomats make to the battered city of Bucha, in the Kyiv region.
Israel's support, next week at the United Nations, for the so-called peace initiative of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, which demands the full Russian withdrawal from the occupied territories, was one of the few commitments announced yesterday. To this must be added the support for hospital infrastructures through a loan of 200 million dollars to an Israeli company that will be in charge of the works. Finally, Cohen stressed that Israel is developing an anti-aircraft early warning system for Ukraine, something that was offered at the time by the former Defense Minister, Benny Gantz. It is taken for granted that the humanitarian aid provided by the Jewish State will continue.
Eli Cohen met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dimitro Kuleba, and later with Zelensky, although it had been rumored that the Ukrainian president would not receive him unless he pledged the expected economic, diplomatic and also military aid. Last October, Ukraine had presented Israel with a wish list, basically anti-aircraft systems like the famous Iron Dome and the lesser-known David's Sling.
The Israeli minister's visit coincided precisely with a day in which, since the early hours of the day, missiles rained down on Ukraine: up to 36, of which the anti-aircraft defense said it had shot down 16, somewhat less than usual. Four of them were of the Kalibr type, fired over the south of the country from ships in the Black Sea. The Kremenchuk refinery, the main one in Ukraine, was hit but the extent of the damage was unknown last night. The Ministry of Energy said that the electricity supply network had not been particularly affected. Moscow did not realize the targets.
