Zelensky wants Bibi in Ukraine for talks Israeli space telescope on launchpad

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has told visiting Israeli officials he would like to see prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit Kyiv.

Zelensky extended the informal invitation at a meeting with foreign minister Eli Cohen and repeated the request during talks with Likud’s Yuli Edelstein and National Unity MK Ze’ev Elkin, according to an Israeli official.

The official added there are currently no concrete plans for Netanyahu to visit, although Ukraine has lobbied for Jerusalem to up its level of aid, including providing defensive weaponry.

Another official told The Times of Israel Zelensky is not interested in a photo opportunity with Netanyahu but would host him if Israel delivers on recent promises for more aid.

Ukraine is also asking Israel to speed delivery of a civilian early-warning system Jerusalem has promised in lieu of anti-missile systems. Cohen said it would take between three and six months for the system to arrive.

Ukraine has reportedly yet to send a team to Israel to discuss the matter.

Kyiv and the West have pushed for Israel to provide elements of its vaunted missile defence array, saying it could save countless lives from Russian rocket attacks on civilian homes and infrastructure.

On Sunday, six Ukrainians were killed in the southern city of Kherson when a rocket struck a busy street, underlining the urgency of the requested help.

Israel has stalled repeated requests from Ukraine for military support, arguing that it needs to maintain a working relationship with