Brussels (QNN)- The European Union is considering sanctions against Israeli individuals and entities after reports revealed that grain stolen by Russia from the territories it occupies in Ukraine is being smuggled into Israel.
The EU's foreign affairs spokesman, Anouar El Anouni, told Haaretz that the European Union "has taken note of the reports that a Russian shadow fleet vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain has been allowed to unload at Haifa port in Israel, and that despite previous contacts of Ukraine with Israeli authorities on the subject."
“We condemn all actions that help fund Russia's illegal war effort and circumvent EU sanctions, and remain ready to target such actions by listing individuals and entities in third countries if necessary," Anouni added.
The spokesman also said that, along with Ukraine, the European Union is requesting additional information from Israeli authorities on the subject.
Israel's ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, was also summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and is due to appear for talks in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Ukraine's embassy submitted a formal protest to Israel's Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem over its acceptance of the ship, which is currently waiting to unload the grain at the Haifa Bay port, according to a Ukrainian diplomatic source who spoke with Haaretz.
According to a Sunday’s report by Haaretz, two weeks ago, the Russian cargo ship Abinsk docked at the Haifa port and unloaded a shipment of stolen Ukrainian grain. The Ukrainian foreign ministry said in an official statement that the ship was permitted to unload its cargo despite Ukrainian officials warning Israeli occupation authorities of its contents ahead of time.
The European Union, United States and the United Kingdom have imposed heavy international sanctions against Russian ships, individuals and entities involved in the export of wheat stolen from territories seized by Russia in Ukraine.
The Haaretz investigation revealed that since 2023, about a year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least two ships carrying stolen grain arrived in Israel, and at least one of them unloaded in Israel.
The behavior of seven additional ships that have unloaded in Israel that year raises suspicion that they also acted to conceal the source of the grain they were carrying.
In addition, internal logs kept by Russian authorities in occupied Ukrainian ports, obtained by Haaretz, list over 30 shipments of stolen goods with Israel as their destination.
Sources who spoke to Haaretz say this is an ongoing pattern. According to information obtained by Haaretz, four shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain have already been unloaded in Israel this year.
Another suspected ship, Panormitis, carrying stolen Ukrainian grain, reached the Haifa Bay on Sunday and is waiting its turn to enter the port.
Ukraine and Israel have generally maintained close ties. Kyiv has often expressed diplomatic support for Israel in international forums even as Israel was carrying out a genocide in Gaza and occupying more Palestinian land. Israel, in turn, has provided limited humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but has avoided supplying large-scale military aid, citing its security concerns and regional constraints.
