Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Israel of enabling the sale of 25,000 tonnes of grain stolen from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory after a Panama-flagged vessel, the Panormitis, docked in Haifa. Zelenskyy stated on X that purchasing stolen goods cannot be considered legitimate business and emphasized that Israeli authorities must be aware of the cargo arriving at their ports. An investigation by Ha'aretz indicates the Panormitis was at least the fifth ship this year to deliver grain taken from occupied Ukraine to Israel. Ukraine has filed a criminal complaint in Israel against the suspected buyers, following what Kyiv describes as dismissive responses from the Netanyahu government. Zelenskyy accused Russia of systematically seizing Ukrainian grain and exporting it through individuals linked to the occupation, calling the shipments a violation of Israeli law. He warned that Ukraine is preparing sanctions targeting those involved in transporting and profiting from the grain. The European Union expressed support for Ukraine, with spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stating the bloc condemns actions that fund Russia's war effort and is ready to sanction entities in third countries if needed. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the accusations, criticizing Ukraine for using social media instead of formal legal requests, claiming evidence had not been provided. Ukrainian officials responded that they turned to public channels only after diplomatic appeals were ignored. Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas described Israel's stance as disingenuous, noting the relationship between Kyiv and Tel Aviv has been cold since Russia's full-scale invasion. Sa'ar further inflamed tensions by denouncing Ukraine's allegations during a joint appearance with Serbia's Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, a close Russian ally, saying Israel had supported Ukraine in international forums—a claim disputed by Kyiv.
Zelenskyy's public rebuke exposes a diplomatic rift rooted in Israel's refusal to act on evidence of stolen Ukrainian grain entering its ports, despite clear warnings. Israel's emphasis on procedural delays while hosting shipments linked to Russian occupation undermines its claims of neutrality. The alignment with Russian allies in diplomatic settings sharpens Kyiv's perception of betrayal. This episode reveals how strategic silence can become complicity in the optics of war-affected states.
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