Israel's incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "personal relationship" with Russia's Vladimir Putin could affect the "historical relations" between Israel and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky told The New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday.
"Of course, if [Netanyahu] wants to maintain his personal relations with Putin, he can continue doing what he's doing," Zelensky said at the summit, held in New York City.
"But if he wants to maintain the historical relations between Israel and the Ukrainian people, you have to do everything you can to save as many people as possible."
Zelensky "wouldn't like" to see Israel balancing its diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia, he added.
Zelensky added that he only spoke with Netanyahu once since the latter's sweeping election victory on November 1, congratulating him in a phone conversation held on November 7. In an earlier tweet, Zelensky stated that he "hopes to open a new page in cooperation with the new Israeli government for Ukraine's and Israel's benefit."
Congratulations to @netanyahu on winning the elections. It’s always important to see real democracy in action. & share common values & challenges that now require effective cooperation. We hope to open a new page in cooperation with the new Government for & benefit!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 3, 2022
Will Netanyahu give Ukraine advanced air defense tech?
During the phone call with Netanyahu, the Ukrainian president also reportedly asked the former prime minister for advanced Israeli air defense technologies to defend itself against Russian missile barrages and the relatively recent addition of Iranian kamikaze drones to the European theater.
Netanyahu will "consider the request," Zelensky was cited as saying by Ukrainian media, clarifying that Ukraine is not asking for "weapons that can attack" but only asking for defense systems to protect Ukrainians.