Interview with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Israel (Part II)

The second part of the interview with the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel addresses significant matters pertaining to Ukraine’s involvement in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Additionally, it elucidates the nature of Ukraine’s relationship with Israel.

David A. Rosenthal.: What is the current state of relations between Ukraine and Israel? It is important to consider the nature of the alliance between these two countries, and the implications this has for both.

Honorauble Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk.: It would be beneficial to provide more assistance, given that Israel is not a member of NATO and is reluctant to provide direct military aid to Ukraine, which would be invaluable. However, with the ongoing challenges in Gaza and along the Lebanese border, It is comprehensible that Israel is prioritising the security of its population over the provision of requisite resources to Ukraine. Consequently, Israel, a relatively small state with a surface area comparable to that of one of our regions, represents a single region out of the 26 that we have. It can be reasonably assumed that even if Israel were to provide Ukraine with all the weapons it requires, this would not alter the situation on the ground. It is of the utmost importance that we engage in the exchange of technologies.

For instance, we could share and exchange knowledge with the Israeli side of how to prevent or neutralise missile attacks or to disable missiles and drones. This is of paramount importance to us, given that Russia will attempt to disrupt our energy system before the onset of winter. It is therefore of the utmost importance for us to obtain as many technologies as possible in order to successfully overcome this problem and ensure the continued warmth of our people during the winter months. It is also worth considering whether Russia might attempt to invade other NATO member states, such as Poland, Baltics or Finland. It is important to remember that Ukraine was also a potential target at the beginning of the 1990 s, when it could have joined NATO and the EU relatively quickly, as did the Baltic States. However, at that time, the Ukrainian people were reluctant to do so, largely due to their reliance on cheap Russian gas and the influence of Russian propaganda.

A minority of Ukrainians in the 1990s expressed a desire to become part of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Consequently, Ukraine has already been extended an invitation to join the EU, and the process of negotiating its accession to NATO has commenced. Our progress has been somewhat slower than anticipated. It is evident that this is not a consequence of any action on our part. This is due to NATO’s reluctance to admit a new member that is engaged in armed conflict with a foreign nuclear superpower, namely Russia. However, we are striving to become a member of NATO as expeditiously as possible. It is unclear whether the entirety of Ukrainian territory will be liberated in the immediate future or if the current NATO membership will be limited to the territories under Ukrainian government control. The proportion of territory currently under Russian control is estimated to be approximately 27%, with the remainder under Ukrainian administration. This may be a potential avenue for Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance, contingent on the willingness of member states to accept Ukraine’s inclusion of territories under temporary Russian occupation. It is important to note that there is no Russian jurisdiction within Ukrainian territory. 

D.A.R.: What is your assessment of the likelihood of Ukraine achieving victory in the ongoing conflict with Russia? 

H.A.K.Y.: Once more, the outcome hinges on the objective. What is it that you are striving to achieve? In this context, the term “win” is used in the sense of achieving military victory. The objective is to achieve a military victory. It would be prudent for Ukraine to request the full range of weapons from the United States and its NATO allies. It seems probable that victory has already been achieved, particularly given the substantial territories liberated in Kharkiv and August 2022, as well as Kherson.

However, there has consistently been a shortage of ammunition and precision, long-range missiles, as well as other essential resources for advanced and offensive operations. Despite recent improvements, these shortages persist. In light of the aforementioned, it can be concluded that the following is the crux of the argument: It is therefore necessary for our Western partners and ourselves to acknowledge that we are not dealing with a single enemy. Furthermore, we have the same partners in the United States and the European Union.

Therefore, if their perception is altered to one of allowing Ukraine to prevail but ensuring the provision of all necessary resources to achieve victory over Russia, this was a cause for concern due to the perceived threat posed by Russia’s nuclear capabilities. However, it is possible that this dynamic may shift in the future. Nevertheless, it is my belief that the people are our greatest asset, not the land. We must consider a range of options, including military action, while also pursuing diplomatic and political negotiations at the local level. Our objective should be to save as many lives as possible.

D.A.R.: In regard to the involvement of mercenaries, it is pertinent to inquire whether the deployment of mercenaries is a valuable contribution to the conflict in Ukraine. To illustrate, mercenaries from Colombia have been observed participating in the conflict.

H.A.K.Y.: There are a number of individuals from other countries who are serving as volunteers in Ukraine. However, this is part of a broader picture. Such a situation is without precedent, as the opportunity to defend has already elapsed. Therefore, it is imperative that more proactive measures be taken, as Ukraine has been defending itself to no avail, as Russia continues its assault. It is crucial to immediately target the Russian bases from which our country is being attacked. This is a vital step, as merely defending against the Russian shelling is insufficient.

It is therefore necessary to neutralise this threat on the ground. In essence, the Russian people must experience the war on their own territory, as it would be unjust to limit the conflict to Ukraine alone. This is particularly important to the Russian people, who view it as a limited military operation based outside of Russia. The advancement of Ukrainian forces on Russian territory in Kursk, for instance, resulted in a significant shift in the strategic landscape. Currently, we are in control of over 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory in the Kursk region, situated to the north of Ukraine and adjacent to the Sumy and Kharkiv region. This enables Russian forces to engage in direct fire with regular ammunition and artillery, at least. It is therefore important to demonstrate that the conflict could be conducted on Russian territory. I am sceptical about the credibility of their leadership.

D.A.R.: What has occurred within the Ukrainian government, which has undergone significant transformation?

H.A.K.Y.: For example, some individuals were transferred from the government to the Office of the President. It is important to recall that the political party led by Zelensky holds a supermajority in parliament. This is why it is not a concern for them. In essence, he has no active opposition, particularly during wartime. Consequently, there is currently a prevailing sentiment of opposition to the proposed election, given the ongoing state of conflict.

Consequently, he is at liberty to change the government as often as he deems necessary. It is also worth noting that the incumbent President changed the Chief of Staff a few months ago. Consequently, the preceding Chief of Staff, Mr. Zaluzhnyi, has become my colleague. He is currently serving as an ambassador in London, and I was honoured to engage in discourse with him two weeks ago at the ambassadors’ conference in Ukraine.

Therefore, it can be concluded that this is not a particularly anomalous occurrence. While the government has been undergoing frequent changes, it is notable that the tenure of the ministers who have remained in office has exceeded four to five years, which is a relatively long period of time. Furthermore, it is important to note that the upcoming election for both the Parliament and the president will be possible only after the end of war.

D.A.R.: What is the core message that you wish to convey to the Israeli people and to the international community?

H.A.K.Y.: It is crucial to recognise the interconnectedness of the two wars in Israel and Ukraine, characterised by shared adversaries and allies. This underscores the necessity for continued collaboration to achieve victory and safeguard our democracies, as well as the lives of our citizens.

This interview was conducted on 5 September 2024.