Report: Senior Ukraine defense ministry mission visited Israel

A senior Ukrainian military delegation visited Israel last week in a bid to secure defense assistance, Channel 13 reports.

The report says that the delegation included the Ukrainian deputy chief of staff, with the group holding several meetings with IDF and defense ministry officials.

The delegation reportedly sought to push ahead with creating a missile alert system, which Israel has promised to build for Ukraine.

The delegation also pushed Israel to supply weapons systems, which Israel has so far refused to do, sending only humanitarian aid and protective equipment.

Though it has sent repeated shipments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Israel has consistently rebuffed Kyiv’s requests for defense weapons, specifically missile defense systems that could be used to fend off Russian airstrikes, despite expressing sympathy for the country’s plight.

Israel’s refusal is seen as an attempt by Jerusalem to maintain working ties with Moscow, due to Russia’s control of Syrian air space, where Israel’s air force has carried out hundreds of sorties against alleged Iranian arms shipments and in order to keep groups backed by Tehran from establishing a foothold.

As Russia relies increasingly on Iranian-made drones in recent weeks, Kyiv has amplified its calls for Israel to share air defense expertise and technology.