Ukraine accuses Israel of importing grain 'stolen' by Russia
TL;DR
Ukraine has accused Israel of importing grain that it claims was stolen by Russia from occupied territories. President Zelenskyy warned of potential sanctions against those involved in this trade.
Key points
- Ukraine accuses Israel of importing stolen grain
- Grain allegedly taken by Russia from occupied areas
- President Zelenskyy warns of sanctions against involved parties
Mentioned in this story
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes statements as he arrives for the EU Summit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, Thursday, April 23, 2026. Petros Karadjias/AP
Petros Karadjias/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine accused Israel on Tuesday of allowing the import of grain it says Russia stole from occupied areas, prompting a sharp exchange between officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a vessel carrying grain had arrived at an Israeli port and was preparing to unload, calling the trade illegal and warning of sanctions against those involved.
Israel claimed that the vessel had not entered the port and had not yet submitted its documents. The MarineTraffic.com marine tracking website showed the ship had been in Haifa for several days.
"In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability," Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that Ukraine's intelligence services were preparing sanctions targeting companies and individuals profiting from the shipments.
"We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes," he said.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the country's tax authority had opened an investigation into a ship expected to dock at Haifa port.
Saar dismissed Zelenskyy's comments as "Twitter diplomacy," telling a press conference in Jerusalem that Ukraine had not provided sufficient information or requested legal assistance.
Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv had informed Israeli authorities about the vessels in advance. He said more than two had arrived in Israel carrying agricultural products Ukraine described as illegally taken by Russia from occupied Ukrainian land.
The ministry said it had summoned Israel's ambassador, Michael Brodsky, and handed him a note of protest over what it called a continuing flow of such shipments. It added that the origin of the grain had been established and that concealment methods, including ship-to-ship transfers in the Black Sea, were well known.
Despite this, the cargo continued to reach Israeli ports and enter commercial circulation, the ministry said, accusing Israel of failing to respond to formal requests to detain the vessels and cargo.
Kyiv described the issue as systemic rather than isolated, and urged Israel to halt imports it says involve stolen Ukrainian grain, warning the situation risks undermining bilateral relations.
Q&A
What grain is Ukraine accusing Israel of importing from Russia?
Ukraine accuses Israel of importing grain that it claims was stolen by Russia from occupied areas.
What did President Zelenskyy say about the grain trade with Israel?
President Zelenskyy described the grain trade as illegal and warned of sanctions against those involved.
What actions might Ukraine take against Israel regarding the grain import?
Ukraine may impose sanctions against those involved in the import of the grain that it claims was stolen by Russia.
