Israel

Lapid Congratulates Zelensky on Ukraine’s 31st Independence Day

Thursday, September 1, 2022 8:28 am | 2 Minute Read

By Zalman Ahnsaf

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks via video conference during the MEDEF union summer forum “La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France, LaREF” at the Paris Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, Monday. (REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier)

YERUSHALAYIM – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made his latest demand for increased support from Israel after his first phone conversation with Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday.

“I count on his country’s accession to the sanctions on Russia and provision of practical assistance to Ukraine in countering the aggression of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged Israel to send military equipment and to sanction Russia since the war began, while acknowledging Israeli humanitarian aid and diplomatic support. Israel has also taken in thousands of Ukrainian refugees, as well as Russian emigrants.

Israel has not officially sanctioned Russia or Russian figures, citing a lack of laws allowing it to do so, but it has taken steps to prevent Russian oligarchs from using the country as a haven for their assets.

Lapid’s office made no mention of the issue of sanctions or assistance in a press release on the call, which said only that Lapid and Zelensky discussed the war in Ukraine. Lapid expressed his condolences for those killed and injured in the war, and called for reaching a diplomatic solution in order to end the fighting.

Prime Minister Lapid congratulated President Zelenskyy on the occasion of Ukraine’s 31st Independence Day which took place last week (24 August). The Prime Minister also noted his support of the Ukrainian people, the PMO statement read.