Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked to make a solidarity visit in the wake of the Hamas onslaught on Israel but was told “the time is not right,” Hebrew-language media reports.
Zelensky issued a strong defense of Israel after the assault, saying that Israel had an unquestionable right to defend itself from attacks from Palestinian terrorists.
“Terror is always a crime, not just against one country or specific victims, but against humanity as a whole,” he said.
“The world must stand united… so that terror does not attempt to take or destroy life anywhere and at any moment,” Zelensky said.
Israel has repeatedly expressed support for Ukraine since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February last year, but has stopped short of offering military aid, sparking diplomatic tensions between Kyiv and Jerusalem.
Israel has been hesitant to antagonize Moscow, which has a heavy military presence in Syria.