Israeli media reported on Thursday that a vessel carrying grain that Ukraine claims was stolen by Russia will not unload its cargo in Israel. Kyiv had asked Israel to seize the cargo.

The Jerusalem Post, among other outlets, cited a Grain Importers Association of Israel statement stating that the company responsible for importing grain was forced to turn away the vessel.

Zenziper - the company that reportedly imports the grains - did not respond immediately to an email request for comment.

This week, Israel and Ukraine traded diplomatic barbs as Kyiv denounced what it called 'purchases of grain produced on Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia. It threatened sanctions against anyone who tried to profit off the grain.

Kyiv has declared that all grain produced by Russian companies in the five regions occupied by Russia, including Crimea is stolen.

Moscow claims these five regions as its own territory. Internationally, they are recognized as Ukrainian. Moscow hasn't commented on the legal standing of the grain collected there.

Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry, wrote on X?on?Wednesday that Kyiv has yet to prove the grain had been stolen. Marmorstein didn't immediately respond to a question about the cargo on Thursday. Reporting by Alexander Cornwell. Mark Potter edited the article.

(source: Reuters)