Ukrainian Ambassador Lambastes Liberman’s Neutrality

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Kornichuk expressed outrage over Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman’s failure to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview with the Russian news site Newsru, Liberman sidestepped when asked  about his position on the war, saying that “we try to take a very balanced line and do everything we can afford in terms of humanitarian assistance. And, of course, we understand that Israel is not a world power – we are not the United States, not Russia, not China. And we try to act accordingly.”

“I am not for Russia, I am not for Ukraine, I am for Israel,” he added.

Kornichuk said that “it is unthinkable that Liberman would not strongly condemn the attacking side.”

“Ukraine was dragged by Russia into this bloody war and our citizens are paying a very heavy price every single day,” the ambassador said. “I am shocked by Mr. Liberman’s indifference towards the crimes that the Ukrainian people have experienced at the hands of the Russians.”

Rejecting what he called a position of “neutrality,” Kornichuk said in a statement, “If you represent Israel, Mr. Liberman, as you insisted in the interview, then you should understand what a significant danger comes from Russia.”

Liberman stressed in the interview that Israel has given Ukraine significant humanitarian aid and taken in some 15,000 refugees.

Earlier in the war, Kornichuk, along with Ukrainian President Zelensky, repeatedly pressured Israel in public statements and speeches to send arms to fight the Russians.