Israel: Ukraine failed to provide evidence on Russian grain shipments

The head of Israeli diplomacy said on Tuesday that Kiev has not provided evidence to support claims that Israel is accepting Ukrainian grain shipments allegedly stolen by Russia.

„The Ukrainian government did not submit a request for legal assistance (...) nor did the Ukrainian government provide evidence for its claims“, – Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a press conference in response to a question.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on Tuesday condemned Israel for allegedly accepting shipments of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia.

Russia has occupied large areas of Ukraine's agricultural land.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of illegally exporting agricultural products from the territory, which Moscow has occupied since invading in February 2022.

„Another ship carrying such grain has arrived in an Israeli port and is preparing to unload its cargo“, – Mr Zelensky wrote in a statement posted on social media.

He added: "The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of what ships are arriving in the country's ports and what cargo they are carrying."

V. Zelensky added that Kiev is working on sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the purchase of Ukrainian grain and said his office will call on the European Union (EU) to punish those involved in this criminal scheme.

Kyiv said on Monday it would summon the Israeli ambassador to protest the possible delivery of Ukrainian grain to the port of Haifa.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the growing diplomatic dispute between Israel and Ukraine is a matter for both countries to resolve themselves.