Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has recently articulated his apprehensions regarding Israel's military operations against Hamas in Gaza, suggesting that they are diverting global attention away from Russia's war in Ukraine. During a conversation with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, Zelensky expressed concerns about Russia's possible interest in diminishing the international spotlight on the conflict in Ukraine, using the Middle East crisis as a distraction.
In Zelensky's own words, he stated, "It is clear that the war in the Middle East takes the focus away from Ukraine. Everyone is exhausted, and there are different opinions about the war. Russia wants to weaken the focus on us, but everything is still under our control." This statement underscores his fear that the ongoing war in Gaza may dilute the attention and support that Ukraine receives from Western nations.
🚨JUST IN: Ukraine's President Zelensky says the war in Gaza is "TAKING AWAY THE FOCUS" from the Russia-Ukraine war. pic.twitter.com/ugkJmzLViu
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 4, 2023
Zelensky's concerns are grounded in the fact that Ukraine has heavily relied on the political and material support of Western countries, particularly the United States and European Union member states, throughout its protracted conflict with Russia, which began in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea.
Simultaneously, Zelensky's remarks coincide with reports of negotiations regarding his planned visit to Israel, initially rumored to occur in the upcoming week. However, these reports have sparked controversy within the Ukrainian government, with some officials arguing that the premature publication of discussions about the visit poses a security risk to the country.
According to Kiev officials, "There is no decision now regarding a date for the visit. The leak about a possible visit by the president damages relations between the countries and damages trust between the decision-makers. The two countries are in a state of war. In Ukraine, the situation is even more difficult, so security issues are important and must be above all else. This leak harms the security of the president and his staff."
I’ve been saying this to anyone e who will listen, the war in Ukraine and Gaza are the same war. The Kremlin is behind both. pic.twitter.com/uoi8O7H2pn
— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) October 30, 2023
Subsequently, it was finally announced that President Zelensky would not visit Israel in the following week, as initially rumored. A Kiev official, speaking to the "Strana.ua" news site said while his visit was canceled, there is no current discussion on when the diplomatic visit might be rescheduled for. It's worth noting that a week after the monstrous massacre by Hamas in the Gaza area, it was reported in Israel that Zelensky asked to visit, but apparently was told by Israeli government officials that "it is not the right time."
