Hours after Hamas members launched a brutal terrorist attack against Israeli civilians, the president of Ukraine , Volodymyr Zelensky issued a fierce defense of Israel and an unequivocal condemnation of Hamas.
“Terrorism is always a crime, not just against a country or specific victims, but against humanity as a whole,” he wrote. Zelensky added that “Israel’s right to defense is beyond question” – and called on the world to stand united against terrorism.
A few days later, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) where Ukraine has been a focus since Russia invaded it some 600 days ago, Zelensky realized the inevitable new reality facing his country.
“Today, our attention is focused on the Middle East,” he declared in a video conference. “No one will be able to forget what the terrorists did in Israel,” he said.
Zelensky continued to support Israel firmly, despite often tense relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeatedly drawing the link between what Hamas did to Israel and what Russia perpetrated against Ukraine, and the indiscriminate massacre of Ukrainian civilians. He even pressured NATO leaders to show support by traveling to Israel.
While taking a principled stand, Zelensky – and the Ukrainian people – fervently hope that the new global security crisis, the outbreak of a new war in the Middle East, will not become yet another obstacle in Ukraine’s efforts to resist the invasion. Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aim to deny Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign country.
Now the war between Israel and the Hamas which began on Oct. 7, Putin’s birthday, feels like a gift for the autocrat, and prominent Russians are openly pleased with it.
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Putin, who has actively developed ties with Hamas in recent years, called it “an example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East.” Russian television programs ridiculed the US and Israel, and a high-ranking Russian diplomat bragged about how Russia would benefit from the conflict.
In talks with regional leaders, Putin, whose attacks in Ukraine left tens of thousands of civilian casualties, said he was concerned about “a catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties.”
Diplomat Konstantin Gavrilov told Izevestia newspaper that the crisis would have a direct impact on the “special military operation” – Putin’s war against Ukraine. “Ukraine’s sponsors will be distracted by the conflict in Israel,” he said, and “the amount of military aid will decrease.” As a result, stated Gavrilov, “the course of the operation may turn sharply in favor [da Rússia]”.
See images of the conflict between Israel and Hamas
Source: CNN Brasil

Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.