Tensions between Ukraine and Israel have grown as Kyiv seeks to prevent a vessel carrying grain allegedly stolen from Russian-occupied areas of the country from docking and unloading in the port of Haifa.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said Kyiv had issued a summons for Israel’s ambassador to appear on Tuesday morning to present a protest note and request appropriate action.
Andrii Sybiha said “friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries,” and reiterated that “Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them.”
“It is difficult to understand Israel’s lack of appropriate response to Ukraine’s legitimate request regarding the previous vessel that delivered stolen goods to Haifa.”
“Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations,” Sybiha said.
Israel’s foreign minister responded to Sybiha’s post on X on Monday evening, calling on Kyiv to refrain from conducting diplomatic relations on Twitter or in the media.
Gideon Sa’ar insisted that “evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided.”
Sa’ar also said that Kyiv did not “even submit a request for legal assistance before turning to the media and social networks.”
“The matter will be examined. Israel is a state that abides by the rule of law with independent law enforcement authorities. All Israeli authorities will act in accordance with the law.”
Euronews sources in Kyiv confirmed initial reports that Ukrainian officials suggested that if Israel did not reject the cargo, it could lead to significant diplomatic consequences.
The vessel in question is the Panama-flagged Panormitis, which has reached waters close to Haifa, according to the marine traffic monitoring services.
Panormitis is allegedly carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley.
According to Ukrainian investigative journalist Kateryna Yaresko from the SeaKrime project, who first broke the story, Panormitis was loaded with grain from occupied Ukrainian territories via transfers from other ships and departed from the Port of Kavkaz in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
According to the report, a large portion of the cargo was transferred from the occupied Ukrainian city of Berdyansk on the coast of the Sea of Azov.
Kyiv is reportedly tracking Panormitis, and officials said they were not willing to “let this slide,” according to US media reports confirmed by Euronews.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source told Axios that Israel has “essentially shrugged off” Kyiv’s demands regarding the previous vessel that unloaded stolen wheat in Haifa port.
“Frankly, this feels like a slap in the face given the strategic goodwill Ukraine has extended – from designating the IRGC as terrorists to criminalising antisemitism,” a Ukrainian diplomatic source said.
Euronews contacted Israel’s foreign ministry but hasn’t received a comment at the time of publication.
Previous case of stolen Ukrainian grain arriving in Israel
Earlier in April, the Russian bulk carrier Abinsk delivered nearly 44,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian wheat to Israel, causing a harsh diplomatic response from Kyiv.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued an official statement, saying that it had warned Israeli officials about the possible origin of the cargo from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on board the Abinsk and also emphasised “the inadmissibility of import operations with such products.”
“Assurances were received regarding an appropriate response,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said, while admitting that “despite the information provided and contacts between the parties, the vessel was allowed to unload at the port of Haifa on 12-14 April,” the statement said.
“The Ukrainian side considers the vessel Abinsk as one that may be involved in the activities of the ‘shadow fleet,’ which the aggressor state uses to illegally export, transport and sell stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories and, ultimately, finance the war against Ukraine.”
An investigation by Israeli news outlet Haaretz found that at least four shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain have already been unloaded in Israel this year.
According to Kyiv’s estimates, at least 15 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain have been stolen by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Delicate diplomatic relations
Relations between Ukraine and Israel have been cautious since the the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Israel refrained from providing direct military aid to Kyiv, trying to preserve a balance in its relations with Russia.
But the situation has been changing since the beginning of the US-Israel war in Iran at the end of February.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy notably did not visit Israel during his Middle East diplomatic tour, the foreign ministries of both countries have stated that Ukraine and Israel are willing to strengthen their relations in the face of a common adversary, Iran.
Ukraine, dubbed Europe’s breadbasket, is one of the largest exporters of corn, wheat and oats to the European Union.
Prior the start of the war, Ukraine generally exported between 5-7 million tonnes of grain every year.
The country relies on farming as a key source of revenue, which the UN estimates accounts for 20% of the GDP.