Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could go to Ukraine in the near future and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israel Hayom has learned based on conversations with officials.
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The officials confirmed that the matter is being considered, although the Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the matter.
Since the outbreak of hostilities between Russian and Ukraine, Netanyahu has generally adopted a cautious approach, which he maintained until returning to power. Upon taking office again, however, he stressed several times that Israel would consider providing Ukraine with weapon systems and even approved Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's visit to Kyiv last week.
With Cohen's visit not prompting a strong reaction from Russia, officials believe that under the circumstances, Netanyahu can visit Kyiv without causing a stir in Moscow.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital, following in the footsteps of many Western leaders who had traveled to the war-stricken country to meet with Zelenskyy and express support for the nation.
Officials assess that given his international stature, Netanyahu too should follow suit, which is what prompted considerations of a visit. A Ukrainian official told Israel Hayom that an invitation has already been extended to the prime minister, but a date for the visit has not been set yet.
Also on Monday, Kyiv hosted Israeli lawmakers Ze'ev Elkin and Yuli Edelstein, who head the Knesset's Israel-Ukraine parliamentary friendship group.
The two met with Zelenskyy at his office for a meeting that lasted about an hour and spoke of increased Israeli aid and Israeli-Ukrainian cooperation against Iran in the international arena.
In a joint statement after the meeting, Ze'ev and Elkin stressed that as a Western nation and one that is familiar with "the meaning of protection against unjust aggression and continuous shelling of civilians," Israel should not stand by and increase its support for Ukraine significantly.
So far, Jerusalem has refrained from providing Kyiv with weapon and defense systems for fear of triggering conflict with Russia, which has a military presence in Syria. It has, instead, opted for humanitarian aid and was the first country to open a field hospital on Ukrainian territory after the outbreak of the war.
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