15 Mar 2022 19:11

Israeli leadership's decisions aimed at restricting entry to Ukrainians at least bewildering - Zelensky's Office head

KYIV. March 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Kyiv is puzzled with new rules for Ukrainians to travel to Israel, head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak said.

"We are grateful to Israel for the efforts it is making to achieve peace in Ukraine. However, the recent decisions of the Israeli leadership aimed at restricting the entry of Ukrainians in the country, to put it mildly, cause bewilderment. We view the suspension of the visa-free travel and the introduction of the Interior Ministry's electronic permit system for Ukrainian citizens to enter Israel as an unfriendly step that needs immediate correction," Yermak said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Kyiv will "react toughly and rapidly to any steps detrimental to the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainians," he said.

Earlier, Israel introduced new entry rules for Ukrainian citizens. Instead of the usual visa-free travel, the country introduced an alternative travel authorization procedure with permits given by the Interior Ministry. "The arrival in Israel and boarding a flight are made with prior authorization from the Israeli Interior Ministry," the Ukrainian embassy said. A special electronic form for obtaining this kind of permission was set up on the Israeli Interior Ministry website.