- May 24, 2025
- 5:19 pm
- Israel
On May 23, 2025, a meeting took place in Jerusalem between the Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, and Yuval Fuchs, Deputy Director General – Head of the Bureau for Eurasia and the Western Balkans at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This meeting was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, highlighting the mutual interest of Ukraine and Israel in strengthening cooperation.
This was reported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel.
Main Topics of the Dialogue
- Development of cooperation in political, security, and humanitarian spheres.
- Support by Israel for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
- The situation in the Israeli Knesset, where information has emerged about the revival of the parliamentary friendship group with Russia.
Official Reaction of Ukraine
Yevgen Korniychuk expressed concern about the reports on the resumption of this group’s activities, noting that it could be used by Russia for propaganda purposes. He called on Israel to maintain a consistent position in supporting Ukraine.
“Concern was expressed in connection with reports about the revival of the parliamentary friendship group with the Russian Federation in the Knesset, and there was also a call to maintain a consistent position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;
It was noted that it is necessary to exercise restraint in public statements on sensitive historical and political topics, which could be used for propaganda purposes,” the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel said.
Background
According to Ukrainian media, the friendship group with Russia was actively operating in the Knesset until 2022. After the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, this activity was stopped. With the beginning of the work of the 25th Knesset in 2022, only the “Israel — Ukraine” friendship group was resumed.
Now, according to media reports, the friendship group with Russia has been revived in the Knesset, headed by the Shas party member Semion Moshiashvili.
Support from Israel and Shared Challenges
Despite this news, Israel and Ukraine continue to develop bilateral cooperation.
Yuval Fuchs thanked Ukraine for its assistance during the massive forest fires in Israel in April 2025, emphasizing that it was seen as a sign of solidarity and partnership.
NAnews — Israel News quotes a representative of Israel:
“We view this initiative as a sign of solidarity and support.”
Why This Matters to the Jewish Community in Israel
Ukrainian-Israeli relations have always been an important part of the life of the Jewish community in Israel. Thousands of Israelis have Ukrainian roots, and many repatriates from Ukraine maintain a special connection to the homeland of their ancestors.
The revival of the friendship group with Russia may affect:
- The psychological climate in the community of Israelis of Ukrainian origin.
- Support for Ukraine in the face of aggression.
- The international image of Israel as a democratic state.
Key Takeaways
- The revival of the friendship group with Russia may create tensions in Ukrainian-Israeli relations.
- The Ukrainian side calls on Israel to maintain support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
- Israel has officially confirmed its readiness to develop cooperation despite any political challenges.
NAnews — Israel News: Monitoring Developments
Our website NAnews — Israel News will continue to closely monitor the diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and Israel. This dialogue is important for understanding the international policy and security of both countries.
The meeting of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel with the representative of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed that diplomatic ties remain strong. Ukraine’s concern about the “friendship with Russia” group is a signal to Israel about the importance of support in difficult times. As Ambassador Korniychuk noted, dialogue should be based on respect, honesty, and partnership — in the interests of both countries and peoples.
