https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-731851Russian ambassador to Israel walks diplomatic tightrope amid Ukraine warIsrael to date has offered Ukraine humanitarian and economic assistance but has not agreed to provide military assistance as have many Western countries, not even defensive weapons. It has rebuffed requests from Ukraine to provide it with a low-technology system to protect its population against drones and missiles.
Russia has taken “serious note” of Israel’s “diplomatic and balanced position on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine,” Viktorov said.
“We hope that this position” against the provision of such defensive systems “will remain unchanged and there will be no weapons components provided by the Israeli authorities to Ukraine,” he explained.
Russia, he said, does not distinguish between offensive and defensive military equipment when it comes to countries that weigh in on its conflict with Ukraine.
It is difficult to distinguish between defensive and lethal weapons, Viktorov said, adding that “weapons are weapons. They are interconnected.
“We make it clear to all the countries, including Israel, that any supply of weapons” would be considered as “an unfriendly move toward Russia.
“There are some indications that Israel will stick to this position” of not providing defensive weapons, and such a position “would be useful for keeping the current level of our bilateral relations,” he said.
Israel and Russia have worked for decades to achieve a productive relationship, “and it would be very counterproductive to harm or destroy everything which has been achieved during these decades,” he said.
Russia, he said, has been sensitive to Israel’s security needs and would like to see that same sentiment reciprocated.
“We, publicly and through diplomatic channels, signaled to the Israeli authorities that we are taking seriously the legitimate security concerns of Israel,” he said.
These are not just words, he said, but something Russia has proven by its actions.
“We are very attentive to all requests coming from the Israeli side, and we are ready to continue these discussions in order to meet” those security interests, he said, without giving specific details.
In “this context and against this background, we hope that the Israeli government will act accordingly and take into account the security concerns of Russia,” he said.