Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday leveled strong criticism at Israel, alleging that a ship transporting what he called “stolen” Ukrainian grain had reached an Israeli port and was preparing to unload its cargo.

“In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business.”

Zelenskyy further asserted that Israeli officials should be fully aware of the ships docking in their ports and the nature of their cargo. He said Israeli authorities “cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.”

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has been engaged in a consistent effort to confiscate grain from Ukrainian territories under its control and arrange for its export through intermediaries tied to occupying forces. He described these activities as violations of Israeli law.

“Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped,” he stated.

The Ukrainian leader also revealed that he had directed his Foreign Ministry to alert allied nations about the situation and was preparing further measures. “Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme,” he said.

He added that Kyiv intends to work with European partners to ensure those involved in the shipments are included in sanctions imposed across Europe.

“Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy concluded.

The remarks come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Earlier in the week, Ukraine summoned Israel’s ambassador in Kyiv, Michael Brodsky, following reports that a ship carrying what Ukraine claims is stolen grain had docked at the Port of Haifa.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the ambassador would be formally presented with a protest and that discussions would center on what Kyiv called the need for “appropriate action.”

“Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them,” Sybiha said.

He also voiced frustration over what he described as Israel’s lack of response to a previous incident involving similar allegations. Kyiv, he said, finds it “difficult to understand Israel’s lack of appropriate response.”

“Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations,” he added.

Reports indicate that the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Panormitis recently entered Haifa Bay and is suspected of transporting grain originating from Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control. Ukrainian officials believe the cargo may have been transferred between vessels before reaching Israel.

This follows another incident earlier in the month, when a separate ship reportedly unloaded tens of thousands of tons of Ukrainian wheat in Haifa, drawing criticism from Kyiv.

Investigations referenced in those reports suggest that multiple shipments of grain believed to have been taken from occupied Ukrainian regions have arrived in Israel over recent months.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the accusations, emphasizing that diplomatic matters should not be handled through public statements.

“Diplomatic relations, especially between friendly nations, are not conducted on Twitter or in the media.”

“Allegations are not evidence. Evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided,” Sa’ar said, adding that no official request for legal cooperation had been submitted prior to Ukraine’s public claims.

“The matter will be examined. Israel is a state that abides by the rule of law with independent law enforcement authorities. All Israeli authorities will act in accordance with the law,” he added.

Ukraine has signaled that it views the issue as serious and may pursue additional diplomatic steps depending on how Israel handles the situation surrounding the vessel.