Ukrainian forces are attacked by the Russian army in the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk (Telegram)
Ukraine has forwarded to Israel a series of requests ahead of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's upcoming visit to Kiev, chiefly a demand for a clear public statement against the Russian invasion and in favor of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the approval of a loan of half a billion dollars, two senior Ukrainian and Israeli officials told Walla this evening (Sunday).
Why is it important that
Cohen's visit to Kiev, which will take place soon, will be the first time that an Israeli minister will come to the capital of Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
A senior Ukrainian official said that the degree of responsiveness to Ukraine's requests during Cohen's visit would testify to the sincerity of Israel's intentions.
During his visit to Kiev, Cohen is expected to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitri Kolba, and reopen the Israeli embassy in Kiev, which had been closed since the beginning of the war.
Journalist Moriah Asserf Walberg reported on News 13 that Cohen also asked to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A senior Ukrainian official noted that at this stage the meeting was not approved by the president.
According to him, the holding of the meeting depends on Israel's willingness to take steps in favor of Ukraine.
"The president will not meet with Cohen for a photo op," said the Ukrainian official.
A senior Israeli official said on the other hand that in his estimation a meeting will take place with Zelensky during the visit.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Photo: Reuven Castro)
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Behind the scenes
senior Israeli and Ukrainian officials said that in the last few days the Ukrainians submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem a list of requests ahead of Foreign Minister Cohen's visit.
The Ukrainians want Cohen to make a clear statement of support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemnation of Russia during the visit.
The Ukrainians also requested that Israel express support for the peace plan presented a few weeks ago by President Zelensky, which is based on a Russian withdrawal from all Ukrainian territory.
The Ukrainians also requested that Israel approve their request for a loan of half a billion dollars.
The request was forwarded during the previous government, but then Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman did not approve it.
In addition, the Ukrainians also requested that Israel take in hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who were injured in the war for medical treatment in Israel.
Another Ukrainian request is to receive a commitment from the new government in Jerusalem to continue promoting the warning system for the civilian population against missile attacks, which the parties started working on during the previous government.
This is a system similar to the one operated by the Home Front Command in Israel.
Abrams tanks to be sent to Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)
Reminder
In his inauguration speech, Foreign Minister Cohen expressed himself in a way that implied that the new government would take a more pro-Russian line compared to the previous government.
After Cohen's words drew a lot of criticism, including from senior Republicans and Democrats in the US, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that there is no change in Israel's policy.
What
do they say?
Bennett claimed in a video he uploaded to YouTube that Russian President Putin assured him at their meeting in Moscow in March 2022 that he would not try to kill Zelensky
.
Putin is a professional liar," wrote the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on Twitter in response to the words.
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Political-political
Tags
Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky
Eli Cohen
The war in Ukraine
Benjamin Netanyahu
