On May 3, 2026, the Israeli public broadcasting company ‘KAN’ reported that the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, Yevgeny Korniychuk, explained the absence of Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Jerusalem during his recent tour of the region. According to the diplomat, the Ukrainian president did not come to Israel because he did not receive an official invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At first glance, this looks like a detail of diplomatic protocol. But in real politics, an invitation to a head of state is not a formality, but a signal. Especially when it comes to the president of a country that has been waging a full-scale war against Russia for several years, and the state of Israel, which itself lives under conditions of war, threats from Iran, and constant pressure on the international stage.
At the end of March – beginning of April 2026, Zelensky visited several Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan. Israel was not on this route, although geographically from Jordan to Jerusalem was not far.
What exactly did Korniychuk say
Yevgeny Korniychuk stated on ‘KAN’ that Volodymyr Zelensky did not include Israel in the regional visit program due to the absence of an invitation from Netanyahu. This is an important formulation: the diplomat did not speak about a lack of time, complex logistics, or accidental schedule coincidences.
He specifically pointed to the absence of a political invitation.
For Kyiv, such a moment cannot go unnoticed. Ukraine is seeking support in different regions of the world, building relationships with the Gulf states, discussing security, recovery, investments, humanitarian issues, and food topics.
Israel could have been a natural point on this route. But the visit did not happen.
Why this was noticed in Israel
For the Israeli audience, this story is sensitive for several reasons.
Firstly, Ukraine and Israel have a strong human connection: repatriates, families, businesses, volunteers, communities, a shared memory of the Jewish history of Eastern Europe. Secondly, both countries today face war and threats, in which the Iranian factor constantly sounds. Iran helps Russia in the war against Ukraine, and for Israel, it is one of the main strategic enemies.
Therefore, the absence of Zelensky’s visit to Israel is not just a route detail.
It is a question of how Jerusalem sees relations with Kyiv, how ready it is to speak openly, and how much it wants to show political initiative.
Grain, sanctions, and a new layer of conflict
Korniychuk also touched on another painful topic – Ukrainian grain, which Kyiv considers stolen from territories occupied by Russia.
According to the Ukrainian ambassador, Ukraine is dissatisfied with the lack of sufficient readiness of Israel to cooperate on the issue of detaining a ship with such grain. The diplomat stated that Kyiv began to include Israeli importers suspected of purchasing ‘stolen grain’ in European sanctions lists.
This is no longer just a diplomatic complaint.
For Israeli business, such a signal means that deals with questionable product origins can turn into not just a reputational scandal, but also sanctions consequences. According to Korniychuk, one of the importers has already terminated a wheat supply contract, fearing further problems.
Why the grain topic is important for Israel
Ukrainian grain has long been part of the big war. Russia hits ports, tries to control supplies, uses food as a tool of pressure, and profits from captured territories. Therefore, any country through which such grain passes or where it can be bought automatically finds itself inside a political conflict.
For Israel, this is especially sensitive.
The country depends on imports, closely monitors food security, and cannot afford to take sanctions risks lightly. If the Ukrainian side talks about stolen grain and possible lists for Europe, this is already a topic not only for diplomats but also for companies, ports, lawyers, and regulators.
It is in such details that Russia’s war against Ukraine goes far beyond the front. News — Israel News | Nikk.Agency considers this story as an example of how decisions about invitations, courts, grain, and sanctions link Kyiv, Jerusalem, and European politics into one chain.
What the absence of an invitation from Netanyahu means
A visit by the President of Ukraine to Israel could have been a strong political gesture.
It would not necessarily mean a sharp change in Israeli policy. But it would show that Jerusalem is ready for a direct conversation with Kyiv at the highest level – about security, Iran, Russia, humanitarian aid, technology, drones, sanctions, and the future of relations.
This signal did not sound.
Israel’s caution and Ukraine’s irritation
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Israel has acted extremely cautiously. This is influenced by security issues, the regional situation, the Syria factor, relations with the US, internal politics, and the constant Iranian threat.
But for Ukraine, such caution often looks like a lack of political courage.
Kyiv expects not only words of support from partners but also concrete decisions. When the Ukrainian president travels around the region but does not receive an invitation to Israel, it is perceived not as a technical pause, but as a political message.
Especially against the backdrop of Israel itself facing forces associated with the anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian axis: Iran, its proxies, and Russian diplomatic play.
Main conclusion
The story of the unfulfilled visit of Zelensky shows that there remains a noticeable distance between Kyiv and Jerusalem.
This does not necessarily mean a rupture. But it definitely shows that the relations between Ukraine and Israel remain complex, cautious, and sometimes painful. They have a common history, common threats, and common interests, but there is not always enough political will for an open step towards each other.
Korniychuk’s statement on ‘KAN’ is important for this reason. It translates the question from the zone of rumors into the zone of public diplomacy: Zelensky did not come to Israel not because Jerusalem was far away, but because there was no invitation.