Ukraine has formally urged Israel to take action against a vessel suspected of transporting grain allegedly taken from territories under Russian control, intensifying a growing diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that Kyiv had submitted an official request through diplomatic and legal channels concerning the ship “Panormitis.” He stated that Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office had also called on Israeli authorities to detain the vessel as part of an ongoing investigation.
According to Sybiha, the ship is believed to be carrying grain exported illegally from a port located in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, in breach of both international law and Ukraine’s domestic regulations. He stressed that the request was a formal legal matter rather than a public relations effort, urging Israel to respond seriously.
Tensions escalated after Ukraine summoned Israel’s ambassador earlier this week, protesting the arrival of the vessel in Haifa. Kyiv warned that accepting such shipments could damage bilateral relations, particularly as similar incidents had reportedly occurred earlier in the month.
Israel, however, has pushed back against the allegations. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that claims made by Ukraine were not supported by sufficient evidence and criticized Kyiv for raising the issue publicly before submitting a formal legal request.
Saar later acknowledged that Ukraine had submitted the request, though he noted it was filed only recently and is now under review by the appropriate Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to introduce sanctions targeting those involved in transporting and profiting from what he described as illegally obtained grain. The proposed measures are expected to apply to both individuals and entities linked to the shipments.
The dispute highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding trade from territories affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the broader legal and diplomatic challenges tied to wartime resource flows.
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