Israel edges toward air defence assistance for Ukraine - Reuters

Jerusalem, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Israel offered connected Wednesday to assistance Ukrainians make alerts for civilians nether aerial attack, signalling a softening successful its argumentation of non-military involution aft Kyiv appealed for counter-measures against Iranian-made drones utilized by Russia.

Though it has condemned the Russian invasion, Israel has constricted its Ukraine assistance to humanitarian relief, citing a tendency for continued practice with Moscow implicit war-ravaged neighbour Syria and concerns for the wellbeing of Russia's ample Jewish community.

On Tuesday, Ukraine stepped up appeals for Israeli assistance aft reporting aggregate Russian strikes utilizing Iranian Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones. Israel, a foe of Iran, has developed methods for detecting and downing them.

Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, portion the Kremlin has not commented.

Israel has asked Ukraine "to stock accusation astir their needs for aerial defence alerts," Defence Minister Benny Gantz told EU ambassadors, according to a connection by his office.

"Once we summation this information, we volition beryllium capable to assistance successful the improvement of a life-saving civilian early-warning system."

Asked to respond, Ukraine Ambassador Yevgen Kornichuk told Reuters that the strategy connected connection "is not applicable immoderate more". He declined to remark further pending further talks with Israel.

The Russian embassy successful Israel declined comment.

In parallel to interceptors that tin sprout down incoming aerial threats, Israel has a hi-tech radar web that sets disconnected sirens oregon cellphone alerts to pass citizens to instrumentality cover.

Similar aboriginal informing technologies could beryllium connected connection to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Israel's Defence Ministry said.

"Israel has a argumentation of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian assistance and the transportation of life-saving antiaircraft equipment," Gantz told the EU ambassadors.

Israel would nevertheless not present weapons systems to Ukraine "due to a assortment of operational considerations."

Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by John Stonestreet

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