Ukraine accuses Israel of receiving shipments of grain 'stolen' by Russia

Ukraine accuses Israel of receiving shipments of grain 'stolen' by Russia16 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDavid GrittenAFPUkraine said a ship with grain from Russian-occupied territory was preparing to unload at Haifa (file photo)A diplomatic row has broken out over allegations that Israel is receiving shipments of grain from Russian-occupied Ukraine.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "another vessel" carrying grain "stolen by Russia" had arrived at a port in Israel and was preparing to unload.He said Israeli authorities "cannot be unaware" of what cargo was inside vessels arriving at their country's ports, and warned that their failure to prevent the grain shipments was undermining bilateral relations.Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised Ukraine for making allegations like this in public, insisting that they were "not evidence" but that the matter would be examined.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that he "would rather not comment on this in any way or get involved in this matter". Russia has previously denied that it is stealing Ukrainian grain.Zelensky condemns US extension of Russian sanctions waiverWhy did Putin's Russia invade Ukraine?The row between Ukraine and Israel erupted after the Haaretz newspaper reported that four vessels loaded with grain from occupied Ukraine had been unloaded in Israel so far this year.Another vessel with a suspected cargo of such grain reached Haifa Bay on Sunday morning and was waiting its turn to enter the port, the paper reported.On Monday night, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X that his office had summoned the Israeli ambassador in Kyiv to protest against what he described as "Israel's lack of appropriate response to Ukraine's legitimate request regarding the previous vessel that delivered stolen goods to Haifa"."Now that another such vessel has arri...