"We want to preserve the special relationship we have always had with Ukraine":
The Israeli embassy in Ukraine is preparing intensively for the visit of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and the director general of his office to the country, which should take place in the coming days. .
In a special interview with Israel's ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, who only a few days ago fully returned to activity in Kyiv after about half a year of only partial activity, he says that Israel is interested in strengthening ties with the country and even assisting in its rehabilitation.
Russian Air Force bombings in Ukraine (archive), photo: Reuters
"This is the first visit of an Israeli minister to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war, which is taking place at a very critical time, a few days before the one-year anniversary of the war, amid reports that we may be facing another attack from Russia," says the ambassador.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is expected to pay a one-day visit to the country, which will probably also include a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's foreign minister.
"We want to preserve the special relationship we've always had with Ukraine," says Brodsky, noting that the two countries have common interests, including the Iranian issue.
"We have a great identification of interests because of the Iranian involvement. There is a lot to talk about and I believe the topic will come up," he says.
The Israeli official does not rule out the possibility of further visits in the future: "We are interested in expressing our support for Ukraine."
Refugees from the fighting in Ukraine arrive in Israel (archive),
Another issue is the nature of Ukraine's votes in decisions regarding Israel at the UN. "It is no secret that we are not completely satisfied with the way they vote at the UN and we are working very hard on it. Our efforts are bearing fruit and you can see this in Ukraine's latest vote at the UN." .
One of the topics that came up many times in the last year was Israel's refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine.
The ambassador points out that there is certainly disappointment on Zelensky's part, but that this does not harm relations with the country.
"It is impossible to hide that there is disappointment that Israel does not supply Ukraine with weapons, but both sides recognize interests and sensitivities. We managed to convey the message that we cannot be put together with NATO countries and come to us with the same claims.
We are in a different area with completely different challenges.
We need to take advantage of the areas in which we can do and already do, but we can do even more and are working on this issue."
Although Israel does not supply weapons to Ukraine, it unreservedly supports the country when it comes to war.
"Sometimes there are people who say we are neutral, but that is absolutely not true. We support Ukraine and condemn the war."
Referring to the initiatives to end the war, including the failed mediation attempt by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, he says that "at the moment it is not on the table at all. As I see the situation at the moment there is no chance of any compromise. It is possible that this will change in the future."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, Kyiv, June 2022 (archive), photo: Reuters
Israel is also interested in assisting in the reconstruction efforts when the war is over," says Borodsky. "There are already preparations for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and we want Israel to be involved in this in areas where we have a comparative advantage - technology, knowledge, water, health and security.
Zelensky called it 'joining greater Israel' and we definitely want to help Ukraine do that."
The Jewish community in Ukraine is involved in preparations for the visit, during which Cohen is expected to participate in the community's ceremony in memory of the tens of thousands of Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust at the Killing Gorge in Avi Yar.
The Israeli embassy was among the first to recognize the impending danger in February 2022 and evacuated the country.
Last May the activity was partially restored and in the last few days it has returned to full operation.
Brodsky points out that this is a clear statement on the part of Israel with regard to the ties between the countries and clarifies that even today there are quite a few Israelis in the country who are helped by them.
"Although we are not talking about the volumes that existed before the war, today there are between hundreds and thousands of Israelis in the country."
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