Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met Thursday evening in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a conversation that lasted about an hour. It is the first time an Israeli foreign minister has visited the country since the Russian invasion a year ago.

The two leaders discussed acting against Iran in the international arena. Zelenskyy reportedly noted that Iran is a common enemy for Israel and Ukraine. 

Before meeting with Zelenskyy, Cohen met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Speaking next to Cohen at a joint press conference, Kuleba thanked Israel for its humanitarian support, especially the companies and volunteers working in Kyiv and other cities. The Ukrainian minister went on to note that his government now expects Israel to provide defensive military aid to his country. Israel, he said, is well familiar with Kyiv’s list of military needs, which was given to the previous Israeli government. "We are waiting for responsible decisions regarding the defense of Ukraine's skies," he added.

Kuleba was referring to a detailed list of requested assistance Kyiv had given Jerusalem last October. The list included economic aid in the sum of $500 million, continued humanitarian support, diplomatic support at the United Nations on Zelenskyy’s peace initiative and demand for full Russian withdrawal as well as military aid. Among other things, Ukraine asked Israel for Iron Dome missile defense systems, David's Sling aerial defense systems, anti-ballistic Arrow missiles and more. Ukraine is also waiting for the aerial attack alarm system for civilians Jerusalem had promised Kyiv.