Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a “special military operation,” threatening “consequences that you never have had before in your history” should any nation intervene • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law.
Chief Rabbi Yaakov Bleich told JNS that the Jews “are part of the general community. What’s good for Ukraine is good for the Jews of Ukraine. What’s bad for Ukraine is bad for the Jews of Ukraine.”
The United Kingdom will “immediately” institute sanctions to “target Russian economic interests as hard as we can,” says British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz says Donetsk’s 5,000-strong Jewish community is trying to remain calm, despite the tense situation.
“We are very happy to have the opportunity to live in Israel,” said new immigrant Yana Koblenko.
It sent soldiers to its former colony in 2013 to help fight back Islamic jihadists.
While 3,000 Israeli citizens have evacuated since Sunday, the Israeli government believes around 10,000 remain in Ukraine.
Report: Russia sends hypersonic-armed fighter jets to Syria for naval drills
The forces are headed to the Hmeimim Air Base and will take part in exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“The more we help Israel in terms of their capability to deny Iran a nuclear weapon, the less likely we’ll have a war,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, adding that the theUnited States should try to provide Israel with “anything that changes the equation.”
El Al is adding additional flights to and from Kyiv • The Jewish Agency plans to return educational emissaries to Israel.
Zvi Magen, a former Israeli ambassador to both Ukraine and Russia, and currently a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, said the Russian president’s main ambition is “to make Russia a global superpower.” That has implications for Israel.
The two leaders discussed Iran’s nuclear program, Russia-Ukraine tensions and the elimination of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. Biden hopes to visit Israel later this year, according to the White House.
