Zelenskyy issues strong warning over Israel buying stolen Ukrainian grain from Russia
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Against the backdrop of the arrival in Israel of a second ship carrying stolen grain, Ukraine has begun preparing a new package of sanctions against companies linked to this scheme, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia. Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload," Zelenskyy notes.
According to him, this is not and cannot be purely business. The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships and what cargo are arriving at the country’s ports.
"Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself," the President of Ukraine adds.
The President emphasizes that Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents.
"Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme," Zelenskyy states.
He also adds that Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every country.
"We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations," the Ukrainian President concludes.
Israel buys stolen Ukrainian grain from Russia
Despite warnings from Kyiv regarding the grain’s illegal origin, Israeli authorities permitted the vessel to be unloaded.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine opened a criminal investigation, and a Ukrainian court seized the ship and its cargo. Ukraine officially requested international legal assistance from Israel, demanding that the grain be seized and that the stolen resources not be legalized.
This week, a second ship arrived at the port of Haifa, which may also be carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. According to Axios, Ukrainian officials called Israel’s move a slap in the face.
In the wake of the incident, Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
