Ukraine formally asks Israel to seize vessel carrying grain stolen by Russia
Ukraine Formally Asks Israel to Seize Vessel Carrying Grain Stolen by Russia
Ukraine formally asks Israel to seize – In a recent diplomatic move, Kyiv has officially requested Israel to detain a cargo ship suspected of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, intensifying tensions between the two nations. The incident follows a prior dispute over a Russian-flagged vessel that unloaded its cargo at the port of Haifa without facing any immediate challenges from Israeli authorities. This new request centers on the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Panormitis, which, according to Ukrainian officials, is believed to be carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley. The ship arrived near Haifa on 25 April, as tracked by marine traffic monitoring services, and has been waiting to dock amid growing concerns over its alleged cargo.
Diplomatic Row Over Grain Trade
The escalation of this conflict comes as Ukraine seeks to hold Israel accountable for its role in facilitating the illegal trade of grain seized by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Kyiv has formally submitted its case to Israel through both diplomatic and legal avenues, urging action against the Panormitis. “Kyiv has requested that Israel take measures to intercept the vessel,” Sybiha emphasized, highlighting the ongoing investigation led by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The legal request, Sybiha added, is grounded in a Ukrainian court ruling, aiming to establish the vessel’s violation of international law and domestic legislation.
“The vessel is suspected of carrying a grain cargo that was illegally transported from a closed port in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in violation of international law and Ukrainian legislation.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded swiftly to Sybiha’s post on X, criticizing Kyiv for relying on “Twitter diplomacy” rather than formal legal channels. “One would expect the submission of a legal request before tweeting,” Sa’ar remarked, suggesting that Kyiv’s timing was questionable. He noted that the arrest request was submitted late on Tuesday night and now serves as a follow-up to a previous communication. “The request is being examined by the relevant authorities,” Sa’ar stated, without immediately confirming or denying the claim.
According to a senior Ukrainian diplomatic source, Israel’s reluctance to engage directly with the issue has prompted Kyiv to take more public action. “If Israel had responded to prior requests via diplomatic channels, there would have been no need for tweets,” the source said. This sentiment aligns with Kyiv’s broader frustration over Israel’s approach to the grain theft crisis. Ukrainian officials have been urging Israel to refrain from purchasing grain stolen by Russia for at least one and a half months, arguing that such actions undermine Ukraine’s efforts to protect its agricultural exports.
Timeline of Diplomatic Communications
Details of the diplomatic exchanges reveal a series of steps taken by Kyiv to address the issue. The first vessel, the Russian-flagged Abinsk, unloaded nearly 44,000 tonnes of stolen wheat in Haifa on 15 April. Kyiv first raised concerns about this shipment during a meeting on 23 April between its ambassador and Israeli foreign ministry officials. Following this, an official note was delivered to Israel, outlining the allegations against the Abinsk. Despite these efforts, Ukraine claims that the only formal response came on 20 April, when the Israeli foreign ministry informed Kyiv that it would not take concrete steps to stop the illegal trade. The reason cited was that the Abinsk had already left Israeli waters, and the evidence provided by Ukraine was deemed insufficient.
Five days later, on 25 April, Ukraine’s embassy in Tel Aviv reported the arrival of the Panormitis near Haifa. This marked the second instance of stolen grain being transported to Israeli ports, prompting Kyiv to escalate its demands. On Tuesday, Ukrainian diplomats summoned Israel’s Ambassador Michael Brodsky to push for action against the Panormitis. “This information was once again ignored,” Ukrainian officials said, expressing disappointment over Israel’s continued inaction. The Panormitis is now at the center of renewed scrutiny, with Kyiv insisting that it carries illegally sourced grain from Russia-occupied areas.
Investigation into Stolen Grain Shipments
Israeli news outlet Haaretz has reported that at least four shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain have reached Israeli ports this year. According to Kyiv’s estimates, Russia has already siphoned off 15 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. This figure underscores the scale of the theft, which has impacted global food security and Ukraine’s economic stability. The stolen grain, which is sold in international markets, has been a point of contention in the diplomatic dispute, with Kyiv accusing Israel of complicity in the illegal trade.
“Ukrainian officials have been calling on Israel not to purchase the grain, stolen by Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine, for at least one and a half months.”
The Ukrainian side maintains that the stolen grain originated from ports under Russian control, such as those in the Crimea and Donbas regions, where Russia has been blocking access to Ukrainian exports. Kyiv argues that allowing these shipments to enter Israeli markets perpetuates the violation of international law, as the grain was taken without proper authorization. The Panormitis, in particular, has become a focal point of this dispute, with Ukraine insisting that its cargo was transported in breach of legal agreements. Israeli officials, however, have yet to comment on the vessel itself or the nature of its cargo, instead emphasizing the method of communication as a key point of contention.
As the situation unfolds, the diplomatic rift between Ukraine and Israel has widened, with Kyiv accusing Israel of prioritizing public perception over legal responsibility. The use of social media to highlight the issue has sparked debates about the effectiveness of such tactics in resolving international disputes. Despite the criticisms, Ukraine remains determined to assert its claims, citing a documented timeline of diplomatic requests and legal actions. The Panormitis now stands as a symbol of the broader struggle over grain theft, with both nations vying to shape the narrative of the ongoing conflict.
With the world watching, the question remains whether Israel will take decisive action to intercept the vessel or continue its current approach. The outcome could set a precedent for how other countries respond to similar accusations, further testing the diplomatic ties between Ukraine and its allies. As the grain continues to flow through Israeli ports, Kyiv’s formal request serves as a reminder of the stakes involved in this critical trade route.
