ALBAWABA - Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in Kyiv Thursday on the first visit since the outbreak of the Russian war on the north European nation.
It is planned that during the visit, Cohen will announce the resumption of operations at the Israeli Embassy in the Ukrainian capital.
Cohen is scheduled to discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials the recent developments in the war with Russia, days before its first anniversary on Feb. 24.
Cohen tweeted: "I arrived in Kyiv this morning, for the first visit (by) an Israeli minister to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
"During my meeting with President Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Kuleba, we will discuss the reopening of the Israeli embassy in Kiev, he added.
I arrived in Kyiv this morning, for the first visit of an Israeli minister to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) February 16, 2023
During my meeting with President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Kuleba, we will discuss the reopening of the Israeli embassy in Kiev, >> pic.twitter.com/WK27EqGtZU
The war in Ukraine prompted the suspension of activities at the Israeli Embassy in Kyiv.
Cohen's visit comes at a time when Israel is avoiding aiding Ukraine militarily, reportedly fearing a harsh reaction from Moscow.
The Israeli foreign minister expressed to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba earlier his intention to visit Kyiv and to be the first minister from the Middle East to visit the war-ravaged city in the near future.
FM @elicoh1 visited Bucha, a suburb of Kiev badly damaged at the beginning of the war.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 16, 2023
FM Cohen: It is impossible to remain indifferent in the face of the harsh sights and horror stories that I have heard and been exposed to.
Israel condemns any intentional harm to innocents. pic.twitter.com/8XNZoD0SAo
He also told the Ukrainian diplomat that his country's embassy would reinstate its full activities in the coming weeks.
Cohen had also informed his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken that he planned to visit Ukraine, at a time when Washington is pressuring Tel Aviv to provide Kyiv with defensive weapons.
ביקרתי בבוצ׳ה, אחד מפרוורי קייב שנפגעו קשות בתחילת המלחמה. אי אפשר להישאר אדיש נוכח המראות הקשים וסיפורי הזוועה ששמעתי ונחשפתי אליהם כאן, ישראל מגנה כל פגיעה מכוונת בחפים מפשע.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) February 16, 2023
צילום: שלומי אמסלם, לע"מ pic.twitter.com/4mcYXvqxIy
Israel sought to remain neutral in the conflict, especially since it has a privileged relationship with Moscow, Russia's capital, and therefore it threads a delicate line with Russia.
שר החוץ @elicoh1 אלי כהן בבאב אייר: ״קול ברמה נשמע, נהי בכי תמרורים, רחל מבכה על בניה… ושבו בנים לגבולם״. pic.twitter.com/fs7vvHGWlo
— Ariel Kahana אריאל כהנא (@arik3000) February 16, 2023
