Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko to visit Israel amid Russia tensions

He came in 2014 for a state visit and again in 2016 for the funeral of former prime minister Shimon Peres.

By HERB KEINON
Updated: DECEMBER 31, 2018 19:06
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (photo credit: MYKOLA LAZARENKO/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
(photo credit: MYKOLA LAZARENKO/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko is scheduled to visit Israel in mid-January, at a time of complicated relations between Israel and Russia due to Russia’s presence in Syria.
The Foreign Ministry announced Poreshekno’s visit on Monday. The Ukrainian president, whose country is in confrontation with Russia over Crimea, will be making his third visit to Israel as president.
He came in 2014 for a state visit and again in 2016 for the funeral of former prime minister Shimon Peres.
In mid-December, Israel for the first time voted against Russia in favor of Ukraine, in a resolution dealing with the Crimean issue. The resolution “voiced grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea” and called on Moscow to “end its temporary occupation of Ukraine’s territory."