Israel and Ukraine: Quiet Cooperation Constrained by Russian Anxieties
A composite image shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving at the White House on 28 July 2026. Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz. In a children's hospital in Ukraine, new equipment is not limited to beds and medical devices. Between treatment sessions, children can access a small library, experiment with robotics, draw, play, and continue their studies, far from the atmosphere of war even for a few hours. This Israeli initiative, which appears purely humanitarian, tells a broader story of a developing relationship between Israel and Ukraine that remains governed by highly sensitive political and security calculations, foremost among them Israel's apprehension regarding Russia. On 10 July last year, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the expansion of its aid to Ukraine through the establishment of two educational centres for children inside hospitals in the cities of Chernivtsi and Bila Tserkva. The project is implemented in cooperation between the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the embassy in Kyiv, the Jewish Impact Center, and the Sasa Setton organization. This initiative is an extension of a similar centre established in Odesa and reveals a less widely publicised aspect of bilateral relations. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has chosen to focus on humanitarian relief, medical support, and civilian projects, avoiding direct military engagement alongside Kyiv. Former Israeli Member of Parliament Ksenia Svetlova, a specialist in Russian affairs, stated that official cooperation between Israel and Ukraine has remained largely within the humanitarian framework, alongside sporadic projects that are not always officially announced. However, speaking to Alhurra, she pointed to what she described as the most significant security step so far: Israel's agreement to the transfer of Patriot missile systems from US stockpiles inside Israeli territory to Ukraine. In January 2025, media reports indicated that the United States transferred approximately 90 Patriot interceptor missiles, stored in Israel, to Poland in preparation for delivery to Ukraine. Svetlova stressed that this does not concern Israeli weaponry, but rather American equipment stored in Israel that Ukraine urgently needed to counter Russian missiles. According to the former MP, this step represented a relatively advanced level of cooperation between the two sides, despite not being officially highlighted. Alongside the missiles targeting Kyiv, another shared threat emerged for both countries in the form of drone attacks. Svetlova revealed that since 2023 and prior to the 7 October attacks, Ukraine offered to cooperate with the Israeli military in countering unmanned aerial vehicles, but the offer did not receive a response from the Israeli side at the time. Svetlova added that an Israeli officer of Ukrainian origin, who served in Ukraine and gained experience in this field, warned of the danger of drones and called for utilizing the Ukrainian experience, especially after Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed in attacks of this nature. However, the warnings did not elicit an effective response, and Israeli authorities only recently began studying the possibility of cooperation with Kyiv after drones transformed into one of the most prominent threats facing Israel on its fronts. This assessment aligns with views put forward by Georgiy Boroskon, a researcher on Russian affairs at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies. Boroskon stated that Ukraine has gradually transformed into a source of sought-after expertise in the Middle East following years of countering Iranian drones and Russian modifications to them. According to Boroskon, Kyiv has sent air defence experts to Gulf states and Jordan, whereas Israel has not yet benefited to the same level from this experience. At the beginning of the war, Ukraine requested batteries from Israel's Iron Dome system, but its request was met with refusal. The request was fundamentally unfeasible, as Svetlova noted, given the Iron Dome's range and its capacity to change the military situation in a war, considering Ukraine's vast expanse and its need for a large number of batteries that Israel cannot provide. Nevertheless, she believes the issue goes beyond the Iron Dome, arguing that had there been political intention, Israel could have built deeper security cooperation with a country facing a Russian attack, at a time when Moscow supports Iran and maintains ties with Hezbollah and Hamas, which are designated as terrorist organizations by several countries. Grain: A Dispute with Political Significance. Friction between the two sides was not limited to the arms file. Last April, grain shipments arriving from Ukrainian regions under Russian control triggered a diplomatic crisis between Ukraine and Israel. The dispute began after the Russian vessel 'Abinsk' unloaded approximately 44,000 tonnes of wheat at the Port of Haifa, which Kyiv stated had been removed from Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. Kyiv asserted that it had warned Israeli authorities in advance, but the ship departed before any action was taken against it. The crisis worsened with the arrival of the Panama-flagged vessel 'Panormitis' at Haifa Bay, carrying approximately 26,000 tonnes of wheat and barley. Ukraine demanded that Israel detain the ship, confiscate the cargo, take samples, and examine its documents to determine the source of the grain. However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the Ukrainian request did not include sufficient legal evidence. At the time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticized Kyiv for resorting to public accusations before completing official procedures. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that purchasing grain originating from Ukrainian territories occupied by Moscow provides commercial cover for Russian looting, and hinted at imposing sanctions on companies and individuals involved. Kyiv summoned the Israeli ambassador to lodge a protest, while the European Union expressed concern over the potential circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia. Ultimately, the 'Panormitis' departed Israeli waters without unloading its cargo, though this came by decision of the Israeli importing company rather than an official ruling to confiscate the ship or its cargo. Ksenia Svetlova stated that Israel used the excuse that the deal was executed by a private company and did not show sufficient readiness to verify Ukrainian allegations. Meanwhile, researcher Georgiy Boroskon believes the issue reflects a broader shift in Ukrainian policy. Kyiv is no longer content with requesting solidarity and assistance, but is demanding that its partners tighten oversight on Russian trade and prevent the use of their ports to circumvent sanctions or market resources seized from occupied regions. Conversely, Svetlova noted that the core of Israeli policy remains fear of Moscow's reaction and an unwillingness to clearly choose a side in the war. She pointed out that Moscow, by contrast, has made its choice through growing cooperation with Iran and ties with parties in the Tehran-led axis, while Israel continues to attempt a balancing act between helping Ukraine and maintaining its channels with Moscow. Relations between Israel and Ukraine cannot yet be described as an alliance, but they have also moved beyond symbolic aid, expanding through education, health, and rehabilitation, while navigating security matters cautiously and in the shadow of broader considerations, with their true potential remaining constrained by Russian calculations.