President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the purchase of stolen grain, including Ukrainian grain by Russia, entails legal liability. According to him, another ship with such cargo has arrived at an Israeli port, and Ukraine has already taken diplomatic measures to prevent such cases.
Zelensky: Buying stolen grain is a crime
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that purchasing stolen goods in all normal countries, including grain that Russia illegally exports from the temporarily occupied territories, is an act that entails legal liability. According to the president, another a vessel with stolen grain has arrived at an Israeli port and is preparing to be unloaded. Zelenskyy stressed that this cannot be considered a normal commercial transaction, and the Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of the nature of the cargo and its origin.
Zelenskyy notes that the systematic export of grain from the occupied territories is a violation of international law and Israeli law. Ukraine has already taken all the necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, but another case proves that the control mechanisms have not yet worked.
Ukraine is preparing sanctions against those involved in fraud
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is preparing to use intelligence data to sanctions package, The law will apply to both carriers and individuals and legal entities trying to make money from this illegal scheme. According to him, Ukraine is coordinating its actions with its European partners to ensure that those responsible are included in the European sanctions lists. The goal is to prevent the recurrence of such violations and bring all those involved to justice.
The Ukrainian side has already instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform all international partners about the situation. This should help strengthen control over the illegal movement of Ukrainian grain and increase international responsibility for such actions.
Israel's position and implications for bilateral relations
The President noted that such transactions violate not only international law, but also the legislation of Israel itself. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine counts on partnerships and mutual respect with each state. He expects that the Israeli authorities will not take steps that weaken bilateral relations between the countries.
Ukraine continues to work on strengthening security not only in the region but also in the Middle East, and hopes for Israel's support and understanding. The Ukrainian government calls on the Israeli side to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Why it matters
The systematic export of Ukrainian grain from the occupied territories by Russia poses serious challenges to international security and the economy. Such incidents threaten not only Ukrainian interests, but also undermine trust in relations between countries, in particular between Ukraine and Israel.
The lack of a proper response from the international community may stimulate further illegal transactions and increase economic pressure on Ukraine. The implementation of sanctions mechanisms and diplomatic pressure should become effective tools for protecting national interests and strengthening partnerships in the world.
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