UKRAINE MAY CANCEL VISA-FREE PROGRAMME WITH ISRAEL DUE TO “UNFRIENDLY ACTIONS”

Fri 11 August 2023:

Ukraine is considering cancelling its visa-free programme with Israel and will request the country be excluded from the so-called Ramstein meetings due to its “unfriendly actions towards Ukraine and pro-Russian position on the international arena”, Kyiv Post has reported, citing sources in Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (RNBO).

The Ramstein meetings involve an alliance of 54 countries, including all 30 NATO members and 24 additional countries that coordinate continuing donations of military aid to Ukraine.

The Kyiv Post’s RNBO source said that Ukraine believes there is a “real danger” that information discussed with Israel at the Ramstein meetings “will probably fall into the possession of the aggressor state”.

“The Israeli authorities never provided any real help,” the source is quoted as saying. “Instead, the information received during the meetings is used by Israel in its own interests.”

Israel remain neutral

A month after the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky solemnly called on Israeli MPs to support his country militarily or to at least enforce international sanctions against Russia and its oligarchs.

But the government led by Naftali Bennett refused to budge from the position of neutrality ostensibly adopted by Israel, which was content to deliver humanitarian aid, albeit limited, to Ukraine. Even Russia’s anti-Semitic-sounding campaigns against President Zelensky, himself Jewish, have not changed Israel’s neutral stance.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Israeli government—much like the Turkish government—has played a double game, offering rhetorical support for Ukrainian independence and providing humanitarian aid to Kyiv.

At least the Turks are willing to sell the Ukrainians weaponry. The Israelis, in contrast, are scrupulously avoiding any policies that will damage Jerusalem’s ties to Moscow.

The primary reason for this is security. The Russians have a major presence in Syria and its airspace. For Israel to be able to go after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its proxies on Syrian territory, Israeli pilots need to deconflict with the Russians.

Putin has been mostly happy to oblige the Israelis, because although he and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei agree on ensuring the survival of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the Russians have wanted the Iranians to be the junior partner in that effort. Israel’s periodic and withering strikes on the IRGC with the Kremlin’s quiet assent have reinforced Putin’s approach.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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