Ukraine will terminate its visa waiver agreement with Israel too, President Volodymyr Zelensky warns as part of his weekly address; 'The rights of Ukrainian citizens must be guaranteed'
The government of Ukraine has called on Israel to stop turning away Ukrainian refugees. If this does not stop, Ukraine will not allow Israeli pilgrims travel to Uman for the upcoming High Holiday season and will terminate its visa waiver agreement with Israel, according to Ukrainian officials.
The message was delivered in President Volodymyr Zelensky's most recent address to his nation and by the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel.
Zelensky in a stern message to Israel as part of his weekly briefing to the citizens of Ukraine: "I listened to the reports of the Border Guard, the Foreign Ministry, the intelligence on the treatment of our citizens – refugees who are in different countries, and regarding visa arrangements. The issues that the citizens of Ukraine actually face in obtaining visas. The rights of Ukrainian citizens must be guaranteed."
"It is unthinkable that we would have to go out of our way to host tens of thousands of Israelis in Uman, with a high security risk, and with a huge logistical effort, when on the other hand the Israeli government mistreats our citizens who come to Israel as part of the treaty between our two countries. If Israel wants its citizens to be able to come to Ukraine as tourists, I believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should intervene, personally, in finding a solution to the current state of affairs," he said.
The Population Authority said that the Ukrainians' figures are inaccurate, and that most of the Ukrainians who arrived in Israel this year did receive an entry permit. According to the data, only 5.4% were refused entry and all the refusals were justified, because they came to work illegally. In total, since the beginning of the year, the entry of a little more than 2,000 Ukrainians was not approved, while 47,000 others did enter Israel.
Source - Ynet/X - Image - Reuters