Israel summons Ukrainian ambassador after he criticizes Netanyahu for touting ties to Putin

Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk was summoned to the Foreign Ministry today after criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with Ynet yesterday over the premier’s comments this week on his regular communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The ministry says in a statement that the envoy was summoned “for a reprimand meeting” with the deputy director general for Euro-Asia, Yuval Fuchs, after he “criticized the prime minister’s remarks regarding his conversations with the Russian president” in the interview.

Fuchs “made clear to the ambassador that his comments were entirely unacceptable and deviated from diplomatic protocol. Moreover, the ambassador’s remarks ignore Israel’s clear position since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine – a position demonstrated, among other things, by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s visit to Kyiv this year and Israel’s votes at the United Nations,” the statement continues.

In a Knesset debate over Israel’s international standing on Monday evening, Netanyahu touted his “personal relationship” with Putin, who is largely reviled in the West for his invasion of Ukraine, saying he speaks with him “on a regular basis” to serve Israel’s “vital interests,” including the defense of its northern border.

In the Ynet interview, Korniychuk hit back at the premier for appearing to back the leader who invaded his country and has supported Iran and its terror proxies, saying he “was surprised by Netanyahu’s remarks, especially considering what Israel endured on October 7. One must stand on the right, moral side of history.”