Overseas Minister Eli Cohen’s go to got here simply earlier than the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion and as Western nations search to extend help to the nation.

For the reason that outbreak of the conflict, Israel has walked a tightrope between aiding Ukraine and avoiding friction with Russia, with which it has strategic regional pursuits. Not like different western nations, Israel has not imposed sanctions on Russia or Russian officers or supplied Ukraine with weapons.

It has supplied humanitarian assist to Ukraine, together with a discipline hospital, and pledged to supply defensive air-raid warning techniques. Ukrainian leaders have talked about some intelligence cooperation with Israel, however Israeli officers haven’t publicly confirmed these ties or the extent of any such cooperation.

Cohen meet with Ukraine’s international minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who stated on Twitter afterwards that he was “grateful for all the assist that Israel and Israelis have supplied over the previous yr.”

“Throughout our detailed and frank talks, we targeted on methods to boost bilateral relations, improve help, and deal with shared safety challenges,” he stated.

Yevgen Korniychuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, stated that Israel “once more assured us that they may carry the early warning system, however they didn’t say when.”

Cohen was additionally scheduled to satisfy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of the nation’s Jewish neighborhood as a part of the temporary journey.

It was unclear whether or not Cohen would announce better help to Ukraine throughout his lightning go to or whether or not the go to signifies better Israeli engagement going ahead.

“We’re right here on an necessary go to of solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, which has actually endured a really exhausting time previously yr,” Cohen stated throughout a go to to a mass grave memorial in Bucha, outdoors Kyiv. He stated Israel has supported Ukraine and supplied humanitarian help, and would proceed to take action.

Cohen was reminded of the hardships endured by Ukrainians when air raid sirens sounded as he entered the nation’s Overseas Ministry.

Cohen stated earlier this yr that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities “will certainly do one factor: publicly, we’ll speak much less” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however would hold offering Ukraine with humanitarian help. Shortly after taking workplace, he spoke to Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Israel maintains good working relations with each warring nations, and has giant populations of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants. Israel additionally depends on safety coordination with Russia over neighboring Syria, the place Israel has carried out tons of of airstrikes towards Iranian army positions previously decade. Russian warplanes additionally function in assist of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Russia and Israel preserve communication to keep away from battle.

As different Western nations step up help to Ukraine, stress has constructed on Israel to share a few of its subtle army means with Ukraine, together with from the U.S.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated following a gathering with Netanyahu in Jerusalem final month that he had emphasised “the significance of offering assist for all of Ukraine’s wants – humanitarian, financial, and safety.”

Yossi Shain, a former member of the Knesset’s international affairs and protection committee, stated Israel’s ultranationalist authorities — which has butted heads with the Biden administration on the problem of West Financial institution settlements — could attempt to acquire Washington’s favor by offering defensive capabilities to Ukraine, whereas “not crossing sure strains that can endanger its lesser involvement due to the threats of Russia” in neighboring Syria.

Final yr, Israel’s former prime minister, Naftali Bennett, tried briefly to mediate between the perimeters, flying to Moscow shortly after Russia’s invasion and assembly with President Vladimir Putin. Bennett stated an interview earlier this month that Putin assured him on the time that Russia wouldn’t kill Zelenskyy.