Israel, Ukraine announce ‘dialogue’ on countering Iran
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (left) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha walking in Kyiv on July 23.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Ukraine and Israel will start talks to counter the "threat" from Iran, due to shared security concerns about Iran's global impact.
- Andrii Sybiha called Iran an "existential threat" while Gideon Saar highlighted curbing Iran's access to weapons for European/Ukrainian security.
- Ukraine has been frustrated with Israel's neutrality on Russia, though they share interests and Kyiv supported Israel's action against Iranian sites.
AI generated
KYIV – Israel and Ukraine said on July 23 they had agreed to start talks on countering the “threat” posed by Iran, in a sign of deepening ties between the two countries.
Both see Iran, a close ally of Russia, as a malign actor on the world stage.
Israel has long accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, an allegation it denies, while Ukraine is regularly attacked from Russia by Iranian-designed drones.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Iran as an “existential threat” to global security during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar – the most senior Israeli official to visit Ukraine since 2023.
“Our countries face common security challenges. Today, we have decided to launch a separate dialogue on the Iranian threat,” Mr Sybiha said.
Mr Saar said any effort to curb Tehran’s access to weapons and technology contributed to the security of Europe and Ukraine.
“I thank President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and the Ukrainian government for its position that Iran must not have nuclear weapons,” he said.
Ukraine has expressed frustration at Israel’s neutral stance on the Russian invasion, but the two share common interests.
Kyiv has long accused Tehran of supplying military hardware to Moscow.
In June, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran with the stated aim of destroying military and nuclear sites, an action that Kyiv supported. AFP
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha showing Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar a Russian Geran drone - a copy of an Iranian-made Shahed-136.
PHOTO: REUTERS
