Israel to help Ukraine with early warning defence system but 'not weapons'

Defence Minister Benny Gantz says state will continue to 'support and stand with the West'

An airborne drone seconds before it fired on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP Photo

Israel will help Ukraine in building an early warning defence system in its war with Russia, Defence Minister Benny Gantz told European ambassadors on Wednesday.

It will not provide "weapons systems" to Kyiv, however, according to a statement from his office.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on Israel to provide a system similar to its Iron Dome, which intercepts incoming missiles.

"After a conversation with representatives from Ukraine, we applied for data that would allow us to assist in the construction and supply of a smart alert system like there is in Israel against aerial and other threats," Mr Gantz said.

"Our policy vis-a-vis Ukraine will not change — we will continue to support and stand with the West, we will not provide weapon systems."

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  Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

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  Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA

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  Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP

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  People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA

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  A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters

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  A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images

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  People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters

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  Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

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  A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters

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  Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters

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  Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters

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  A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP

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  Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA

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  A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP

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  Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA

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  Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP

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  An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP

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  A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP

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  A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

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  Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP

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  Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP

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  Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP

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  Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images

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  Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images

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  Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images

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  A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images

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  In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP

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  Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP

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  Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP

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  Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP

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  Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP

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  A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP

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  This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP

Mr Gantz this week told the Kan public broadcaster that humanitarian aid for Ukraine had been provided, while Israel had also helped take care of refugees and the wounded.

"For obvious reasons, we did not want to involve ourselves in combat systems, this was the policy until now," he said. "I am careful about this matter. I check every week or two how we can further help Ukraine as much as possible and I will continue to do so."

Israel reportedly rejected a request from Ukraine for a telephone conversation between Mr Gantz and his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, Haaretz reported.

It comes amid continued Ukrainian assertions of Iranian missiles battering numerous cities across the country as Russia steps up its offensive.

Ukrainian forces have released images of what analysts say is the wreckage of Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, fired at targets across the country. The US says Tehran has sent "hundreds" of weapons to Russia.

In a leaked letter from the Ukrainian embassy to the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs, representatives from Kyiv said Ukraine is "highly interested" in obtaining defence systems as soon as possible and "Israeli support in training for Ukrainian operators."

Iran has already sent drones to Russia, it said, and there is a "high possibility" it has sent ballistic missiles.

Iran's use of weapons in Ukraine will "increase security threats for the State of Israel and the Middle East region," the embassy said.

The European Union has said it will step up sanctions on Iran if "concrete evidence" arises of its involvement in the war.

Israel has maintained ties with Russia and Ukraine since Moscow invaded in February. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said that Israel arming Ukraine would "destroy" relations with the Kremlin.

Forty-one per cent of Israelis oppose arming Ukraine in the war, a poll conducted by Kan found.

Only 21 per cent were supportive of the proposal, with 36 per cent unsure.