Ukraine's President Zelenskyy to visit Israel next week

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Israel next week, and the discussions for the arrival are in advanced phase, Israel’s Channel 12 news reported.  Ukrainian president may arrive in Israel on Nov. 6 or Nov. 7. The final date of the visit is not yet known, according to Israeli outlet Ynet. 

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko told NV meanwhile that the ministry is not entitled to comment on president's foreign trips or schedule as Ukraine is in a full sale war. More than two weeks ago, Israel snubbed Zelenskyy as he offered to make a visit to the Jewish state after the Oct. 7 terror attacks within the country.

“Such a visit would send an important message,” Israel's Education Minister Yoav Kisch was quoted as saying.

'A unified front for Israel'

Zelenskyy's visit to Israel, his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and other Israeli leaders, "will send a message of the enlightened world under attack, standing against the less-enlightened world, attacking,” Channel 12 said. “It would indicate something of a unified front of Israel, Ukraine, Europe and the US against the Russia-Iran axis.” 

Ukraine’s president had offered to visit the Jewish state last month in a ‘show of solidarity’ as Hamas unfolded a terrorist attack on the Israeli border towns after breaching the fence. It was understood that Zelenskyy's office sent an official request to the Israeli Prime Minister's office requesting to coordinate a visit, according to Ukrainian and Israeli officials. 

Zelenskyy’s visit was aimed at garnering international support for Israel, as the Ukrainian President likened it to the initial days of Russian invasion, saying that the international support helped a lot.

"This is why I urge all leaders to visit Israel and show their support for the people. I'm not talking about any institutions, but about support for the people who suffered from terrorist attacks and are dying today," Zelenskyy said earlier last month after he held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

Ukraine’s President compared Hamas to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his invasion. He was also among the first leaders to all Israeli Prime Minister after the Hamas attack. "In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity ... Israel has the full right to defend itself against terror," Zelenskyy said in a statement.