Ukrainian President Zelensky wants to go to Israel to show 'solidarity'
(Baonghean.vn) - Ukrainian President Zelensky previously expressed concern about losing the West's attention.
On October 11, Axios reported that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is looking to visit Israel to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's anti-Gaza campaign.
According to the US news site, unnamed officials from both Ukraine and Israel said that Mr. Zelensky's office sent Mr. Netanyahu's office a formal request to coordinate and arrange a visit. Axios asserted that such a trip would "strengthen international support for Israel's counterattack against Hamas in Gaza."
According to Axios sources, the discussions are still in the “preliminary” stage and no specific timeline has been set. However, neither government has confirmed or denied the information.
Mr Zelensky arrived in Belgium on October 11, meeting with NATO defence ministers to request additional weapons and ammunition. Speaking to reporters, he affirmed that international support had been very important to Ukraine in the early days of the conflict with Russia.
“This is why I urge all leaders to visit Israel and show their support for its people. I am not talking about any institution, but about support for those who have suffered terrorist attacks and are now dying,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Since October 7, when Hamas launched rockets and raids into Israeli territory, the conflict in Ukraine has largely disappeared from Western news. During a visit to Romania on October 10, Mr. Zelensky complained about this.
“If the attention of the international community shifts away from Ukraine, one way or another, it will have consequences. The fate of Ukraine depends on the solidarity of the rest of the world,” he told France 2.
Mr. Zelensky also blamed Ukraine for attacks by Palestinian gunmen, saying that Russia “helped Hamas and stood behind Hamas,” but did not provide any evidence.
Earlier, he cited Ukrainian intelligence information claiming that Russia wanted to start a war in the Middle East to “undermine world unity” and “destroy freedom in Europe”.
Israel's ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Ben Zvi, dismissed such allegations as “complete nonsense” and insisted his government did not believe Russia was involved “in any way”.
Washington has backed West Jerusalem on similar terms to Kiev, promising Netanyahu large quantities of weapons and ammunition. The Pentagon has assured the press that the US has the capacity to support both Israel and Ukraine, as well as their militaries around the world.