15 May / 2024
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held an online meeting with representatives of Jewish organizations, the Jewish community, and the Israeli media. More than 50 participants from around the world joined the meeting.
The main topic of the conversation was the unification of efforts of Ukrainians and Jews in countering anti-Semitism in the world, defending the historical truth about the value and contribution of the two peoples to world history, and possible ways to support Ukraine in the war unleashed by Russia.
The Head of the President’s Office expressed gratitude for the increased support for our country from the Jewish communities, in particular for the significant humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable groups of Ukrainians.
At the same time, he called on the participants of the meeting to contribute to strengthening Israel’s military assistance to our country.
“I believe that today it is Israel that can help Ukraine in the issue of protection against Iranian drones. And we look forward to creating a joint initiative in this regard,” emphasized Andriy Yermak.
He reminded that the two countries are linked by more than just friendly relations. Many prominent Jews were born in Ukraine, and many Ukrainians saved Jews during World War II.
“It is natural and historical for Ukraine and Israel to have the most friendly and partnership relations. True friendship has no time limits, and, of course, we must be together both during military challenges and during peace, which we believe in and which we hope will come to Ukrainian soil very soon,” the Head of the Presidential Office noted.
According to him, today Ukraine has clearly defined its civilizational path as a democratic European country that treats all peoples with deep respect and honors the memory of the victims of the Holodomor and the Holocaust. Despite the military challenges, Ukraine does not stop working to restore the historical truth about these tragedies both domestically and on the world stage. Russia’s imperialist efforts have always been aimed at degrading the value and significance of both the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples. And Vladimir Putin’s remarks about President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again emphasize this.
Andriy Yermak thanked the representatives of the Jewish community for the appropriate reaction: “The Kremlin not only tolerates, but incites the growth of xenophobia and anti-Semitism not only in Russia, but also around the world. That is why a decisive public response by Jewish public figures and a transparent position of the country’s political leadership is extremely important.”
The Head of the President’s Office reminded that with the support of the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada had adopted a law on fighting anti-Semitism. Andriy Yermak also emphasized that it is extremely important to preserve the unity of the international community in supporting Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia, in particular against Russian propagandists and all those who support the Russian regime.
The meeting was attended by: Soviet dissident, Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky, President of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn Rabbi David Niederman, President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine Borys Lozhkin, Secretary General of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for the Victims of National Socialism Hannah Lessing, Chairman of the Board of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights Jay Rosenzweig, and founder of the Center Irwin Cotler, representative of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) Larysa Rutman, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Director of International Relations Rabbi Raphael Rutman, representatives of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the Vaad, Moishe House, Masorti Conservative Jewish Community, regional Jewish communities of Ukraine, and Israeli media.
