Israel urged to seize Ukrainian grain ship allegedly seized by Russia

Ukraine Requests Israel Take Action Against Grain Vessel

Kyiv has asked Israel to seize a vessel carrying grain, which Ukraine claims was stolen from areas occupied by Russia. The Panormitis, a Greek-based management company’s vessel, is headed to the Israeli port of Haifa with grain that Ukraine alleges was shipped from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.

According to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, Ukraine has repeatedly urged Israel via diplomatic channels to take measures regarding the vessel. Israel has accused Kyiv of using “Twitter diplomacy” in making its request.

The Panormitis’s management company denies that the vessel is carrying grain from occupied Ukraine, stating that all legal documents show the cargo is Russian. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has written on X that Kyiv submitted its request to seize the vessel late on Tuesday and is now being examined by relevant authorities.

Ukraine has protested Russian exports of grain from eastern Ukrainian regions occupied since Moscow’s 2022 invasion, as well as from Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has threatened sanctions against those attempting to profit from the shipment.

The European Union has approached Israel regarding a “Russian shadow fleet” vessel carrying stolen grain and is ready to sanction individuals and entities that help fund Russia’s war effort. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously reached out to Israel about another vessel, the Abinsk, which it claims was also carrying stolen grain.

Israel allowed the Abinsk to unload and leave despite Kyiv’s requests. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has written on X that he expects the Israeli side to take Ukraine’s concerns seriously rather than responding with emotional statements.

Source: Al Jazeera