According to major media reports, Ukraine summoned Israel’s ambassador on Monday to present a formal protest note over the arrival of a cargo ship in Haifa that it says is carrying grain stolen from occupied territories, a step that escalates an already simmering diplomatic confrontation and signals Kyiv's determination to stop what it views as the laundering of looted resources. The vessel at the center of the dispute is the Panama-flagged Panormitis, which Kateryna Yaresko of the SeaKrime monitoring project said is carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley. Yaresko alleged that the Panormitis was loaded with grain taken from occupied Ukrainian territories through a series of transfers, and that it departed from Russia’s Port of Kavkaz. A large portion of the cargo, she said, was transferred from the Russian-occupied city of Berdyansk, a key port in the Zaporizhzhia region that has become a reported hub for such exports.
Ukraine explicitly warned Israel against accepting what it called stolen grain, framing the issue as a test of bilateral friendship and legality. The protest note delivered by Ukraine’s ambassador formally outlined Kyiv’s objection and demanded that Israeli authorities prevent the ship from offloading. Kyiv officials indicated they are not willing to let the matter slide and hinted at deeper consequences if their concerns are ignored.
friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded that evidence substantiating the allegations has yet to be provided, and that Kyiv did not submit a request for legal assistance before turning to the media and social networks. He stressed that the matter will be examined and that Israel, as a state that abides by the rule of law, will act accordingly through its independent law enforcement authorities. Sa’ar criticized the public approach, noting that diplomatic relations should not be conducted via social media or the press, and that allegations alone do not constitute evidence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy then entered the fray with sharp accusations, raising the stakes in the dispute. In a social media post, he accused Israel of receiving stolen Ukrainian grain and breaking its own laws, and described how Russia systematically seizes grain in occupied Ukrainian territories and exports it. Zelenskyy also promised that Ukraine would impose sanctions against those involved, though the exact nature of those measures remains unclear.
Russia's illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them.
The diplomatic row follows mounting tensions over prior grain shipments that have tested the relationship. A Haaretz investigation found that at least four large ships with stolen grain have reached Israel and been sold at low prices over the last year. A Ukrainian diplomatic source, speaking to Axios, said that Israel had essentially shrugged off Kyiv’s demands regarding a previous vessel, describing the stance as a slap in the face given Ukraine’s strategic goodwill gestures, which included designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and criminalizing antisemitism.
The origin of the grain remains fiercely disputed. Russia denies any theft, insisting the grain originated from Russia. Kyiv warned of diplomatic consequences if the Panormitis is allowed to dock, though it is unclear whether Israel will allow the vessel to unload and what specific evidence Ukraine has shared with Israeli officials. The standoff underscores a rift between two nations that had previously cooperated on various fronts, with Ukraine demanding concrete action and Israel insisting on legal due process. As both sides dig in, the outcome of this diplomatic test remains uncertain, with potential repercussions for broader international efforts to hold Russia accountable for actions in occupied territories.