Israeli minister defines Iran as growing threat to Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz discussed mutual concerns over Iran's increasing influence and actions.

The conversation, which took place on July 3, focused on the threats posed by Iran to both Ukraine and Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

“We also exchanged views on a number of regional and global threats posed by Russia, Iran, and North Korea,” Kuleba stated on X following the call. Katz emphasized the importance of international cooperation to counter Iran, urging the world to take decisive action.

He noted that Iranian drones, used by Hezbollah against Israel, are also a significant problem in Ukraine. "Israel and Ukraine have a common enemy, and this enemy is Iran," Katz asserted, according to Maariv news agency.

The conversation underscored Israel's shift in its foreign policy stance, particularly in the wake of the Hamas attacks in October 2023, which strained Jerusalem's relations with Moscow. The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the call as part of broader efforts to mobilize European countries against Iran.

In addition to discussing threats, Kuleba and Katz explored avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Israel. Katz called on Ukraine to join efforts in rallying European support to impose sanctions on Iran, aiming to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and supplying drones and missiles to its proxies.