After Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement today (Friday) about the annexation of territories in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement stating that it does not recognize the move. “Israel supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, we will not recognize the annexation of the four districts by Russia. Israel has repeated this clear position many times, including in recent days,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning earlier today to Israelis who hold dual citizenship – Israeli and Russian. The ministry warned these citizens, noting that if they enter or stay in Russian territory – or are currently staying there, there is a chance that they will be recruited into the army, and that their exit from its territory will be prohibited. “Citizens of Israel who hold Russian citizenship are asked to take this information into account when planning their travels and when staying in Russian territories,” the ministry emphasized.
As you remember, about a week and a half ago, Putin announced a partial military mobilization of reserve forces, and threatened the West, which he says wants to “destroy the country”, in light of its involvement in nuclear blackmail against Russia. In a speech he gave to the nation at the time, the president said he wanted to “protect” Russian territory and warned that his country would use “all means” at its disposal, apparently a reference to the use of its nuclear weapons.