Israel has proposed to Ukraine the possibility of transferring to Kyiv the Russian weapons captured from Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The proposal was discussed Tuesday (Jan. 21) at a meeting between Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk, according to a Facebook post by Ukraine’s Embassy.
“During the meeting, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Minister for her previously submitted proposal at Knesset, to transfer to Ukraine Russian-made weapons seized by the IDF in Lebanon or elsewhere from Israel’s enemies,” the Embassy wrote.
“It was noted that this initiative would represent an important step in recognizing the common threats faced by both countries. The Ukrainian side expressed hope for a positive resolution of this matter.”
More than 60 percent of the weapons captured by the IDF from Iran’s Lebanese proxy (Hezbollah) were of Russian origin, including Draganov sniper rifles, SPG-9 launchers, Kornet anti-tank missiles, and a 9P163-1 portable launcher for the Kornet-E.
Myriad other weapons seized from Hezbollah by the IDF were Iranian-made, including 107-millimeter rockets, 81-millimeter mortars, PG-7 AT rounds, and the Toophan anti-tank guided missile system.
According to the post, the Israeli and Ukrainian diplomats also discussed “current common challenges for both countries,” including the military cooperation between Iran and Russia.
The Embassy wrote that the tightened relationship between Iran and Russia “poses a threat to the national security of both Ukraine and Israel.”
Ukraine’s ambassador emphasized in the meeting that “successful counteraction to this threat is a shared interest for both nations.”
