Relations with Israel
Relations with Israel
Ukraine-Israel relations were first established on December 26, 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of Ukraine.
As of 2017, the two countries hold embassies in the second country, with the Ukrainian embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli embassy in Kiev.
Over the years, relations between the two countries have grown warmer, largely as a result of the large number of Israeli residents who came from Ukraine (who came from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s). The rapprochement between the two countries was expressed on February 9, 2011 allowing citizens of each country to visit the other country without the need for a visa, for a limited period of time and for tourist purposes only.
Ukraine and Israel have close and firm diplomatic relations, which began with the independence of Ukraine in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. One of the factors contributing to the warming of relations between the two countries is the large number of immigrants who arrived in Israel from the territory of Ukraine, estimated at half a million people. Against this background, a free-trade agreement between the two countries was signed in 2011, which eliminates the need for an entry visa when visiting Israeli citizens in Ukraine and vice versa.
Relations between the two countries are characterized, inter alia, by mutual senior visits over the years. As part of this, in 2011, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich visited Israel as the guest of President Shimon Peres, who visited Ukraine a year earlier.
Trade relations between the two countries
Trade relations between Ukraine and Israel began with the signing of the MFN Agreement “Preferred Country”, which came into effect in 1996.
A year later, an investment protection agreement was signed between the two companies. Or laid the cornerstones for the beginning of the development of trade relations between the two countries, which in recent years have become significantly closer. This is reflected in a gradual and consistent increase in exports and imports between the two countries.
In 2009, Israel exported to Ukraine goods worth $ 88 million, and in 2011, $ 294 million. An even more significant leap was recorded in the opposite direction. In 2009, Ukraine exported goods worth $ 104 million to Israel, and in 2012, worth $ 1 billion.
The main export sectors from Israel to Ukraine in recent years are plastics and its products, machinery and agricultural equipment, as well as oils and cosmetic products. In the past, diamonds and high-tech also accounted for a significant share of Israeli exports to Ukraine.
Among the export industries from Ukraine to Israel are iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, cereals and fertilizers. The Ukrainian president himself expressed Ukraine’s desire to strengthen cooperation with Israel in the field of high-tech.
One of the important milestones for bilateral relations in trade in particular and mutual development in general was Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2008, which improved its status and image as a potential partner for bilateral trade. In addition, negotiations between Israel and Ukraine are continuing for the signing of the Free Trade Area Agreement (FTA), under which various barriers to trade between the two countries will be removed and made difficult, with an emphasis on taxation and various customs. Israel will join the list of countries that signed an agreement with Ukraine Similar are Moldova, Georgia, Iceland and Norway.