Ukraine protests against Israeli imports of grain from occupied territories

On April 28, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Israel of accepting grain shipments originating from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The Ukrainian government claims these shipments represent illegal commercial activity and has summoned the Israeli ambassador in Kyiv to receive a formal note of protest. A specific vessel carrying such cargo arrived at the port of Haifa, with reports suggesting this follows a similar incident that occurred in mid-April. President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has engaged in diplomatic efforts to halt these imports and is coordinating with European partners to prepare a package of sanctions against involved parties. Foreign Minister Sybiha warned that the acceptance of stolen grain could jeopardize bilateral relations between the two countries. The Russian government has been accused of systematically seizing grain from occupied areas and exporting it through networks tied to local occupation authorities. Israel has not yet officially commented on the specific allegations regarding the origin of the grain.