Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Israel

Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced support for Israel following its conflict with Hamas in October 2023, with the First Lady stating Ukrainians share the Israeli people's pain, and billboards across Kyiv displayed Israeli flags. His government has also sought closer ties, exemplified by his remarks that Ukraine wants to be a “big Israel,” focusing on security-first principles, self-defense doctrine, and intelligence dominance, as outlined in early 2022. However, his stated position appears to have evolved, as in 2024, Zelenskyy publicly stated that Ukraine recognizes two states, both Israel and Palestine, and that his government would try to convince Israel to stop its actions and prevent civilian suffering in Gaza. This shift was accompanied by concrete action, as Kyiv sent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territories in July 2024.

His administration's relationship with Israel remains complex, balancing historical admiration and a desire for security alliances with the necessity of maintaining international support amid the ongoing war with Russia. In a more recent development concerning the Middle East, he supported the joint military action by the United States and Israel against Iranian strategic targets in February 2026, citing Iran's technological partnership with Russia, which has devastated Ukrainian infrastructure. This suggests a continued strategic alignment with Israel on security threats emanating from hostile actors.