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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted Thursday that he spoke via phone with Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog.

In the Tweet, Zelensky said he hopes to deepen bilateral ties between Ukraine and "Israel" after the occupation completes the formation of its new government, adding that he outlined Ukraine's energy needs during the conversation and invited "Tel Aviv" to take part in the Black Sea grain deal initiative. 

I had a phone call with President of Israel @Isaac_Herzog. I hope for deepening 🇺🇦-🇮🇱 cooperation after the formation of the government. I also briefed about the needs of our energy industry and invited to join the #GrainfromUkraine initiative.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 24, 2022

Zelensky's outcry comes against the backdrop of recent heavy shelling led by Russia in response to Ukraine's terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge on October 8.

On November 18, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that about half of Ukraine's energy grid was out of order due to Russia's missile strikes.

The country has been experiencing frequent blackouts due to this. 

This map of Ukraine in the dark is spreading on Russian Telegram pic.twitter.com/ec8x3oU29m

— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) November 23, 2022

"Israel" expressed several times over the past few months its support for Kiev but refrained from going overboard so as to not further deteriorate its relations with Moscow. 

Zelensky said in late September that he was "shocked" the Israeli occupation was not joining the West in supplying Kiev with weapons in light of the Ukraine war.

"Israel is actively helping Ukraine, but without crossing the 'red lines.' These 'red lines' are connected with a very difficult situation in the Middle East. Israel is, in fact, sitting on top of a powder keg. Israel needs to act very carefully and take into account, first of all, the interests of its own security," Israeli occupation ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said.

The Israeli occupation has a clear understanding of the consequences of crossing these so-called "red lines".

"I understand that they need to defend their territory, but I have learned from our intelligence that Israel has been actually supplying these defense systems to other countries," Zelensky said on September 23.

Earlier in September, Israeli media reported that an Israeli arms manufacturer was supplying anti-UAV systems to Ukraine via Poland, with the sales conducted through Warsaw to circumvent "Tel Aviv's" refusal to sell advanced arms to Ukraine.

On October 18, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Kiev will be sending an official note to the Israeli occupation requesting immediate air defense supplies and cooperation in the security sector.

Kuleba said he would formally ask President Volodymyr Zelensky to cut Kiev's ties with Iran over Tehran's alleged supply of drones to Russia.

According to Ukraine's top diplomat, Tehran was fully accountable for the ongoing destruction in Ukraine.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in October warned "Israel" against providing weapons to Ukraine, stressing that any move to boost Kiev's arsenal would severely damage bilateral relations. 

"Israel appears to be getting ready to supply weapons to the Kiev regime. A very reckless move. It would destroy all bilateral relations between our countries," said Medvedev on Telegram. 

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Israeli occupation spent millions of dollars to appease its western partners by procuring undisclosed strategic materials for Ukraine after "Tel Aviv" faced pressure to send the arms to Kiev via a third country.

Reportedly, the United States is the party that pressured the occupation, which had to go against its proclaimed stance to only send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

The Biden administration demanded the occupation to switch from strictly providing humanitarian supplies and expanding its assistance to Ukraine and giving military equipment, prompting "Tel Aviv" to fund the purchase of strategic materials for Ukraine, including air defense systems, Haaretz reported.

The agreement to deliver undisclosed strategic materials, reached via a second NATO member state that already supplies Ukraine with arms, saw "Israel" spending millions of dollars on military assistance to Ukraine. 

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