Russia on Wednesday warned Israel against arming Ukraine, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated he was considering providing military assistance to Kyiv and was willing to mediate.
“We say that all countries that supply weapons [to Ukraine] should understand that we will consider these [weapons] to be legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, reported AFP.
“Any attempts—implemented or even unrealized but announced—for the supply of additional, new or some other weapons will lead to an escalation of this crisis. And everyone should be aware of this,” Zakharova said.
Washington has been cautious about which arms it provides Kyiv and from where the weaponry arrives. But speaking in Israel Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli counterparts that they should be doing more to support Ukraine from a security perspective.
Alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken stated as a matter of fact that “Russia’s ongoing atrocities” underscore the importance of “providing support for all of Ukraine’s needs—humanitarian, economic and security.” He implied that this support was an international responsibility.
Israel has yet to provide weapons directly to Ukraine. Doing so could risk undermining Israeli security, some commentators have argued.