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Mossad chief attends Netanyahu meeting with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after his first meeting since Russia’s invasion with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy that Israel will help Ukraine deal with anti-personnel mines, but said nothing about missile defense.

Zelenskyy Netanyahu
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy at the United Nations in New York on Sept. 19, 2023. — Avi Ohaion/GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday afternoon at the United Nations headquarters in New York with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy amid strained relations between the two countries, mainly over Israel’s continued refusal to supply Ukraine with weapons. 

Israel’s Mossad chief David Barnea attended the meeting and was warmly received by the Ukrainian leader, raising speculation about intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

After greeting Netanyahu, Zelenskyy approached the Mossad chief, hugged him and told him “I’m happy to see you,” raising speculations that the two might have already met before.

Before the first meeting between the leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Zelenskyy said that he “expects a lot from Israel,” but stressed that “there are not many problems in the relations” between the two countries, reported Ynet. 

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