Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has called on Israel to impound the vessel Panormitis, which Kyiv alleges is transporting grain looted from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The ship is reportedly headed to the Israeli port of Haifa.

The request has sparked a diplomatic spat between the two nations. Ukraine accused Israel of inaction, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar hit back, accusing Kyiv of engaging in 'Twitter diplomacy' rather than following official channels. Saar claimed that Ukraine only submitted a formal seizure request late Tuesday.

A representative of the Greece-based ship management company Royal Maritime Inc denied the allegations, stating that all documentation confirms the cargo is of Russian origin. The Kremlin declined to comment on the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy threatened sanctions against those profiting from the shipment. The European Union also said it had approached Israel regarding a 'Russian shadow fleet vessel' and is prepared to sanction individuals and entities in third countries that help fund Russia's war effort.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Israel to take the matter seriously, recalling that a previous vessel, the Abinsk, was allowed to unload and depart Israel despite Kyiv's protests. The incident underscores ongoing tensions over grain exports from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Source: www.aljazeera.com