Interview with Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel
In a recent interview, Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniichuk, addressed the state of Ukrainian-Israeli relations, security cooperation, and the regional fallout from the Middle East conflict. A central point of discussion was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request for a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders last communicated in January 2025, and this new request comes amid heightened regional instability.
Israel's Security Challenges and Regional Tensions
Israel is currently facing severe security threats. Its military operation against Iran, which began in late February, is a response to Iranian-backed attacks using drones and missiles against the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As Ambassador Korniichuk noted,
"Iran represents an existential threat to Israel, as its leaders consistently speak of Israel's destruction."He contrasted this with the United States' perspective, where the issue is viewed more through an economic lens.
Israel finds itself threatened on multiple fronts:
- Conflict with Hamas in the south,
- Hezbollah strikes from the north,
- Direct attacks from Iran.
A key aspect of Ukraine-Israel cooperation involves Ukrainian specialists assisting Gulf states in countering Iranian drones. Despite this collaboration, Israel does not supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. However, it has provided all the components for an early warning system, and Israeli-made Rada radars have been operational on Ukraine's front lines for several years.
It is worth noting that Israel has recorded 14 fatalities and approximately 750 injuries from attacks over a two-week period. In this context, Korniichuk remarked,
"I don't want to be Moses, but I do want us to cooperate."He also emphasized that
"the axis of evil is clearly defined—it is Russia, Iran, North Korea, which are in some way supported by China."
In light of recent events, Israel's new ambassador to Ukraine, Roy Rosenblit, is scheduled to arrive in August. Furthermore, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently visited Israel at the invitation of the Institute for Strategic Studies, indicating continued dialogue between the nations amidst growing global threats.
This situation underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of Ukrainian-Israeli relations, which are evolving against a backdrop of global and regional challenges. Security cooperation and the exchange of intelligence on mutual threats, particularly from Iran, could become increasingly vital for both nations. Their ongoing dialogue, especially during this period of instability, may help strengthen their respective positions in international affairs.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, Zelenskyy's outreach to Netanyahu highlights Ukraine's strategic role in countering Iranian threats. This collaboration not only underscores the importance of dialogue between the two nations but also emphasizes the shared security interests they face amidst increasing regional tensions.