Zelensky ‘does not’ understand Israel’s failure to supply defensive equipment, says envoy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “does not” understand Israel’s refusal to provide his army with essential equipment such as helmets and jackets, his envoy has admitted.

Speaking on Friday, Yevgen Korniychuk, the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, said he recognised how Russian anti-missile systems were critical to the Jewish state’s security with regards to Syria.

But he suggested Israel’s determination to maintain relations with Russia, should be compared to the actions of the Baltic states, who despite having borders with Vladimir Putin’s state have shown  they are willing to “bring everything they could to Ukraine, they’re not afraid.”

In a briefing at the Embassy’s Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, Korniychuk said that as envoy “I as an ambassador do” understand the position taken by Israel, before adding “but our president does not,”

According to a Times of Israel report, he continued: “You do have a few airplanes and anti-missile systems in Syria that belong to Russians and you are afraid.

“And the same time let me point you to Baltic states that have a joint border with the Russian Federation. And they don’t care, they bring everything they could to Ukraine, they’re not afraid.”

Israel has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including 100 tons of medical and cold-weather equipment flown out of Ben Gurion Airport last week.

As well as maintaining a military presence in Syria, Russia is also currently negotiating Iran’s return to a nuclear deal.