By Oyintari Ben
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, says he is “shocked” by Israel’s refusal to provide Kyiv with anti-missile defence systems to help fend off Russian attacks.
Since the beginning of the battle in February, the president has been requesting the armaments. Zelenskyy referred to Israel’s Iron Dome system, which is frequently used to block rockets fired from Gaza by Palestinian insurgents.
“I have no idea what transpired in Israel. I am shocked because I don’t see why they couldn’t provide us with air defences.
Zelenskyy’s remarks were more pointed than those in March when he criticized Israel for not sending more weapons. Israel said it would assist Ukraine as much as it could at the time but made no commitments.
Zelenskyy made the most recent comments in a conversation with reporters on Wednesday, and his office made the audio file available on Saturday.
Israel, which has denounced the Russian invasion, is apprehensive of jeopardizing its relationship with Moscow, a significant player in the neighbouring Syrian conflict where Israeli forces routinely kill rebels they claim to be pro-Iranian.
Similarly, Israel’s government did not support international sanctions on Russia, sending humanitarian help to Ukraine and showing solidarity for its citizens.
In the past, Russia has charged Israel with aiding “neo-Nazis” in Ukraine.
Adding that he was not accusing anyone, Zelenskyy said, “I realize That they have a terrible situation, with the situation with Syria and Russia.
“I’m only expressing the facts. My discussions with the Israeli leadership haven’t helped Ukraine in any way.”
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that he and his Ukrainian counterpart “spoke about the fighting situation in Ukraine” and “expressed his sympathies for the dead and injured in the war” during their phone conversation on September 1.
According to Lapid, “a diplomatic solution to cease the fighting” in Ukraine has been demanded.
