Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniichuk, has confirmed that his country is considering suspending its current visa-free travel arrangements with Israel after reports surfaced that Israeli officials had leaked high-level intelligence to Russia. The intelligence had reportedly been garnered at the Ramstein Air Base forums where Western allies gather to discuss how to respond to the ongoing invasion.
Tensions between Kyiv and Tel Aviv have been gradually coming to a head over the past year due to Israel’s perceived inaction regarding the invasion as well as a clampdown on Ukrainian refugees in recent months.
Israel terminated state health insurance coverage for Ukrainian refugees last week as Ukraine raised the possibility of blocking Jewish pilgrims travelling to Rosh Hashanah in retaliation to the decision as well as the recent uptick in the deportation of Ukrainian citizens from Israel.
While Ambassador Korniichuk ruled out suspending the visa agreement entirely he did concede that a temporary suspension of the deal could be in order after concerns from Ukrainian intelligence that Israel had been transferring classified material to Russia. He also added that an estimated 30,000 Jewish pilgrims heading to Israel from Ukraine next month for Rosh Hashanah celebrations could not be properly protected.
Under the current visa arrangements, Ukrainians can enter and live in Israel for up to three months without a visa after the Israeli Court High Court of Justice reversed a government decision to limit the stay of non-Jewish Ukranians. Ukraine had an estimated pre-war Jewish population of 380,000 with citizens of Jewish heritage entitled to automatic rights to become Israeli citizens under the Right of Return laws.
Ukraine also fears that Israel is effectively playing both sides in the conflict with the issue of Israeli leaks to Russia discussed at a diplomatic conference in the Ukrainian city of Uzhgorod earlier this month.
Ukrainian security officials have claimed that Israel presents a “real danger” to their nation’s defence and that Israel should even be excluded from future Ramstein meetings. These meetings, between 54 countries, are held each month in Germany to coordinate the diplomatic, financial, and military response regarding the invasion.
The Ukrainian sources also confirmed rumours that the Ukrainian Cabinet would discuss suspending their visa deal with Israel in retaliation for Israel’s alleged wavering on support for Kyiv.
Since the commencement of hostilities. Israel has taken an ambiguous position on the war refusing to furnish the Ukrainian army with weapons for fear of antagonising Russia in Syria where Israel requires the use of Russian-controlled airspace to launch attacks on Iranian proxies operating in Syria.
Ukraine is also currently clamouring for Israel’s much-prized air defence systems to defend against Russian attacks with President Zelensky confirming that Netanyahu had refused his invitation for a state visit to Kyiv while at last month’s NATO summit in Lithuania.
