Ukraine demands Israel seize a shipment of stolen Ukrainian grain that arrived on the ABINSK vessel
Kyiv • UNN
Kyiv calls on Israel to seize a shipment of Ukrainian grain that the ABINSK vessel delivered to the port of Haifa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a request for legal assistance.
Official Kyiv calls on Israel to arrest a batch of stolen Ukrainian grain on board the vessel "ABINSK", which entered the port of Haifa, UNN reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation related to the entry of the vessel "ABINSK" into the port of Haifa, the State of Israel, and its transportation of a cargo of wheat, which, according to available information, originates from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian side, in advance, specifically on March 23, informed Israeli partners about the vessel "ABINSK" and the possible origin of the cargo from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and also emphasized the unacceptability of import operations with such products. Assurances of proper response were received. At the same time, it is concerning that despite the information provided and contacts between the parties, the vessel was allowed to unload in the port of Haifa on April 12-14.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the Ukrainian side considers the vessel "ABINSK" as potentially involved in the activities of the "shadow fleet" that the aggressor state uses for the illegal export, transportation, and sale of stolen Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories and, ultimately, for financing the war against Ukraine.
Based on the materials of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, including the decision of a Ukrainian court to arrest the vessel and cargo within the framework of the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ukrainian side immediately sent a request for international legal assistance to the State of Israel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses hope for fruitful and constructive cooperation between the competent authorities of Ukraine and the State of Israel, proper consideration of the request, and the application of appropriate legal mechanisms within Israeli jurisdiction.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel are in constant contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and Israeli competent authorities to ensure appropriate steps.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expects that the Israeli side will make a balanced and lawful decision and satisfy the relevant request of the Ukrainian side, in particular, arrest the specified batch of grain, to prevent similar situations in the future.
The department emphasized that Ukraine is consistently working to bring to justice all those involved in the illegal export of Ukrainian resources from the temporarily occupied territories and calls on international partners to take a principled stand in preventing such practices.