Official diplomatic links exist between Ukraine and Israel. Even so, there are many issues and moments of cooperation between Western European countries. Israel has seen support from Ukraine, like asking for their help in missile defense and providing assistance and grief when a war like that of October 2023 in Gaza began. Israel is sending some help and aid to Ukraine but has not sent lethal weaponry or missile defense because it deems the security circumstances unsuitable.
In contrast to Israel’s hopes, Ukraine has repeatedly voted against Israel‘s actions in the Palestinian territory at UN meetings. Nevertheless, Israel maintains a careful stance on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine adopts a self-directed policy on global issues and regularly deplores actions by Israel concerning the Palestinians while also backing Israel on the diplomatic and cultural levels. Sometimes their relationship is filled with disagreements, but they often cooperate as well.
How has Ukraine’s stance on Israel evolved?
Due to recent battles, geopolitical factors, and historical links, Ukraine’s position on Israel has changed dramatically throughout time:
1. Soviet era and early independence
At the time Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, it supported Israel by voting for the 1947 UN Partition Plan. Even so, after the 1967 Six-Day War, diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Israel ended and Israel restored ties with the Soviet Union only in 1991, when Ukraine became independent.
2. Post-independence relations
Ever since gaining independence, Ukraine and Israel have continued their diplomatic relationship by increasing cooperation in areas such as trade and culture. The first Israeli honorary consuls were sent to Ukraine, which improved both business and personal relationships.
3. Problems experienced during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict
The situation confronting both countries became messier after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Kyiv was unhappy that Israel chose not to intervene in Crimea. After Ukraine mentioned Israel’s delay in denouncing Russia, it appealed to Israel to impose sanctions and send troops during the Russian invasion of 2022.
4. Opinions about politics and the results of UN votes
Ukraine has often voted with other nations to condemn Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and to compare them to Russian actions in Crimea at meetings of the UN. As a result of the argument, Israel has stopped hosting Ukrainian officials and asked for the repatriation of its diplomats.
5. Military and humanitarian cooperation
Israel has permitted the entry of Ukrainian refugees and given humanitarian aid to Ukraine despite political unrest. Israel has provided missile warning systems and non-lethal aid, but has held off on supplying cutting-edge weapons because of worries that the technology could end up in Russian hands.
6. Recent events and the Gaza war
Ukraine opposed violence against Palestinians, supported forming two states and offered comfort and solidarity to Israel during the recent Gaza War. President Zelenskyy provided Gaza with humanitarian aid and confirmed Ukraine sees Israel and Palestine as nations.
7. Regular attempts at balancing relations
Israel makes sure not to upset Russia or Ukraine, while Ukraine constantly seeks Israel’s stronger help against Russia. Sometimes, when the state votes in international groups, the results can be abstentions or choices that disappoint Ukraine.
Why do Ukraine and Israel often have tensions?
The primary reasons for the conflict between Israel and Ukraine are geopolitical, diplomatic, and related to security.
1. Israel has given Ukraine little support and tried to stay neutral
Over the years, particularly since the war in Ukraine broke out, Israel has kept a safe and neutral distance from Russia over Crimea. Ukraine asked again and again for UN resolutions against Russia’s actions, support from NATO, and missile defense, but Turkey still refused. President Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have spoken out against Israel, condemning it for not sending missile defense systems and for applying sanctions to Russia.
2. The nation’s worries about Syria, Iran, and Russia in terms of security
Concerns about its safety have led Israel to hold back from offering Ukraine all military assistance. Since Hezbollah and Iranian-supported troops are in Syria at Russia’s side, Israel needs to be careful with its approach to Russia. Israel worries that giving Ukraine state-of-the-art weapons could make Russia take revenge or that Russian control could see important technologies end up in the hands of Iran. Trying to keep peace on all borders makes Israel less likely to declare support for Ukraine in public.
3. Differing opinions in global forums
Israel and Ukraine have frequently been on opposite sides of the UN voting. Resolutions denouncing Israel’s occupation and settlement practices in Palestinian territory are among the ones that Ukraine has backed. Israel has retaliated by occasionally refusing to approve resolutions by Ukraine, including those that call for Russia to make amends. Relations have become even more strained as a result of this diplomatic tit-for-tat.
4. Similar dangers but differing strategies
Existential perils threaten Israel from groups such as Hamas and Iranian proxies and Ukraine is threatened in the same way by Russia. Even though both countries agree about protecting democracy and sovereignty, their tactics are not the same. Sometimes Ukraine’s confrontational approach to Russia causes diplomatic issues with Israel.
5. Humanitarian and sociocultural bonds during political difficulties
Strong sociocultural ties exist despite conflicts, as seen by the sizable Ukrainian Jewish population that holds Israeli citizenship and participates in religious pilgrimages. Although Israel has absorbed some Ukrainian refugees and given them humanitarian aid, Kyiv has also lodged diplomatic concerns about matters including the deportation of Ukrainians from Israel.
How do international votes at the UN reflect the tensions between Israel and Ukraine?
During the 2025 UN General Assembly, Ukraine and Israel were opposed in the votes on resolutions criticizing Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Ukraine joined other countries in co-sponsoring resolutions condemning Russia’s actions and urging an immediate pullout of its military. Meanwhile, Israel joined the bloc that preferred action leading to calm and didn’t name Russia in these resolutions, voting against some draft versions.
That same week, 93 countries, including Ukraine, favored a European-designed resolution to acknowledge Russia’s threat and have it leave, but 18 nations among them, like Israel, voted against the measure.
Due to its votes, Israel attempts to keep Russia from feeling too angry about its security concerns in Syria and its neighbors. Unlike Russia, Ukraine has called on allies for support in dealing with Russian hostilities. Ukraine says it is disappointed with Israel’s response, believing it is not enough to deal with their serious threat.
In addition to votes about Ukraine, Ukraine has voted against Israel 122 times between 2015 and 2025 in UN resolutions addressing Israel’s policies in Palestinian areas. The two nations’ diplomatic tensions and disagreements on several global issues are highlighted by their reciprocal opposition in the UN General Assembly.
Such electoral trends show the big differences in foreign affairs: Israel is mainly concerned with regional matters and ties to Russia, while Ukraine opts for greater international pressure on Russia and selects other policies. Because of these issues, UN voting sessions make the complex and sometimes testy ties between Israel and Ukraine very clear.
What makes Ukraine support Israel?
Nevertheless, Ukraine helps Israel in most international affairs out of respect for their democratic way of life and their common struggle against dictatorship. Israel and Ukraine each regard their nation’s survival as part of a broader fight for democracy and freedom, even though they both face dangerous forces.
