Ukraine Calls in Israeli Ambassador Over 'Stolen Grain' Vessel
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a pointed warning to Tel Aviv, urging Israel for at least the second time to turn away the ship and avoid jeopardizing bilateral ties. "Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia's illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them," he wrote on X, the US social media platform.
Sybiha sharpened his criticism by directly referencing a prior incident that drew no Israeli action. "It is difficult to understand Israel's lack of appropriate response to Ukraine's legitimate request regarding the previous vessel that delivered stolen goods to Haifa," he stated, stressing that "another such vessel has arrived in Haifa."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar pushed back firmly, dismissing Kyiv's public pressure campaign and characterizing the accusations as unverified. "Dear Minister, diplomatic relations, especially between friendly nations, are not conducted on Twitter or in the media," Saar wrote on X. He further noted that Ukraine had not formally submitted a legal assistance request "before turning to the media and social networks," calling the claims "allegations" for which "evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided."
Despite the friction, Saar offered a measured commitment, asserting that "the matter will be examined" and that Israeli authorities "will act in accordance with the law."
Earlier Tuesday, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry confirmed it is "closely monitoring" the docking of the vessel identified as "ABINSK" at Haifa port, which it says is carrying wheat sourced from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. A formal ministry statement noted that Israel had been notified as far back as March 23 regarding the ship's identity, its suspected cargo origin, and the "inadmissibility of import operations with such products."
Compounding the urgency, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday that a second grain-carrying vessel originating from Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine had arrived off Haifa and was awaiting port entry — raising the stakes further in what is rapidly becoming a significant diplomatic flashpoint between the two nations.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
