Israel Delivers 2,000 Helmets, 500 Protective Vests to Ukraine

Israel delivered 2,000 helmets and 500 protective vests to emergency and civilian organizations in Ukraine on Wednesday.

Israel has previously provided humanitarian assistance, including a field hospital that was set up in Ukraine, in addition to about 100 tons of humanitarian supplies that have included water purification systems, medical equipment, blankets and coats. It has not sent any weaponry or defense systems, partly out of fears of further worsening ties with Russia, with which Israel must coordinate its strikes on pro-Iranian targets in Syria.

Addressing Israeli lawmakers remotely in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Israel's response to Russia's invasion, saying: “We can ask why we can’t receive weapons from you, why Israel has not imposed powerful sanctions on Russia or is not putting pressure on Russian business.”

Earlier this month, the government announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had apologized to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over the claim by his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, that Adolf Hitler had Jewish heritage.

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Meanwhile, Israel has been contemplating reopening its embassy in Kyiv, three months after it was evacuated On Monday. Ambassador Michael Brodsky visited the city to see if resuming normal diplomatic operations is possible.

The Foreign Ministry announced on February 21 that it would close its Kyiv embassy and move its remaining diplomats in Ukraine to Lviv amid fears of the impending Russian invasion. Several days later, the embassy was again relocated, this time to Poland.

Last month, Israel was one of 40 countries that participated in a U.S.-hosted defense summit to discuss increasing international defense aid to Ukraine.