Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba harshly criticized El Al Israel Airlines for accepting payments via the Russian banking system 'Mir' in order to evade the sanctions slapped on Russia's international financial systems.
He attached a screenshot from El Al's website proving his claim, deeming the actions immoral and a blow to Ukrainian-Israeli relations.
"While the world sanctions Russia for its barbaric atrocities in Ukraine, some prefer to make money soaked in Ukrainian blood. Here is @EL_AL_ISRAEL accepting payments in Russian banking system ‘Mir’ designed to evade sanctions. Immoral and a blow to Ukrainian-Israeli relations," he tweeted.
While the world sanctions Russia for its barbaric atrocities in Ukraine, some prefer to make money soaked in Ukrainian blood. Here is @EL_AL_ISRAEL accepting payments in Russian banking system ‘Mir’ designed to evade sanctions. Immoral and a blow to Ukrainian-Israeli relations. pic.twitter.com/ZrqVS8Ury5
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 7, 2022
In response to Kuleba, El Al released a statement denying the foreign minister's claims, stating that 'Mir' has been blocked by the Israeli airline since February 28.
"We are saddened that a simple check was not conducted prior to publishing the tweet," the statement reads.
The Israeli airline added that it is still conducting flights to Russia as per the request of the Israeli government, due to Israel's unique obligation to rescue and evacuate Russian Jews, "as long as that is possible."