Ukrainian ambassador challenges Netanyahu’s claims of strong ties with Russia

Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk has sharply condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments regarding his close relationship with Vladimir Putin. His response came on Tuesday, December 9, after Netanyahu’s speech in the Knesset received wide coverage in Israeli media.

During his address to parliament, Netanyahu highlighted what he described as his long-standing personal ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to Israeli media, Korniychuk said that, from a moral standpoint — particularly after the events of October 7, 2023 — Israel should align itself with democratic states.

“In my remarks in the Knesset, I said that we maintain ongoing contacts with another global power — Russia,” Netanyahu stated. “I regularly speak with President Putin, and this personal connection, which spans decades, helps safeguard our vital interests. This applies to the current situation as well, including attempts to obstruct our efforts to defend our northern border — and that, of course, will not happen. The US, India, Germany, Russia — these are four powers whose relations with us have only grown stronger since the war began.”

Responding to these assertions, Ambassador Korniychuk said: “I cannot advise your prime minister on what he should say in his speeches, but I want to remind you that Russia, the so-called ‘great power’ as the prime minister called it, has been conducting a brutal war against Ukraine for nearly four years. They kill women and children, they kill civilians, and they are creating countless problems from the perspective of international law and the humanitarian situation. Therefore, I was deeply surprised by the prime minister’s position — by the fact that he maintains a friendship with Putin — especially considering that Israel suffered two years ago. I am referring to October 7, 2023. It is essential to be on the correct and just side of history and morality. I am certain that most Israelis know about Russia’s numerous attempts to support Hamas and Hezbollah.”

Korniychuk continued: “Your military showed me a huge quantity of Russian-manufactured weapons seized from Hezbollah during the operation. If the relationship is as positive as described, why did this happen? From open sources, I know that Russian instructors train Hezbollah and Hamas, and that representatives of these groups have repeatedly travelled to Moscow for meetings and for assistance. Ukraine supported Israel at the UN; Russia has never supported Israel at the UN.”

The ambassador added: “From a moral perspective, particularly after the people of Israel — whom I deeply respect — endured the atrocities committed by Hamas over the past two years, I believe the ethical position should prevail. We have always regarded Israel as the only democracy in the Middle East, and if Israel truly is a democracy, it should stand together with other democratic nations against aggressors and against hypocrisy.”

Korniychuk also noted that this is not the first time Netanyahu has publicly praised Putin. “I simply want Israelis not to forget who supported Hamas and Hezbollah, and who did not. This matters not only for us, but also for you,” he stressed.

Asked whether Israel is offering sufficient military assistance to Ukraine, the ambassador replied: “After October 7, we could not expect much from Israel, but dialogue, the exchange of experience, and intelligence cooperation are developing; we value this and are making use of it. We hope that the ‘Tzeva Adom’ rocket-alert systems will be deployed in Ukraine by the end of next year. Israeli companies will be highly welcome participants in Ukraine’s reconstruction.”

It is worth recalling that on December 3, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held a meeting in Jerusalem with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka — the first visit of a high-level Ukrainian official to Israel since 2022.

By Tamilla Hasanova