Jerusalem: Israel summoned the Ukrainian ambassador Wednesday for a reprimand after he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks about his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Israeli media.

According to Anadolu Agency, Channel 7 reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Yevgen Korniychuk following an interview he gave to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily in which he criticized Netanyahu's statements regarding his conversations with Putin.

Yuval Fuchs, deputy director-general for Eurasian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed the ambassador that his comments were entirely unacceptable and deviated from diplomatic protocol. Fuchs emphasized that the ambassador's remarks ignored Israel's clear position since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, a position demonstrated by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's visit to Kyiv this year and Israel's votes at the United Nations.

In a statement cited by Channel 7, the Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the ambassador's comments would align with the two countries' shared desire to continue strengthening their cooperation.

On Monday, Netanyahu informed the Knesset about his personal relationship with Putin, stating that he speaks with him on a regular basis to serve Israel's vital interests, including the defense of its northern border. The Ukrainian ambassador responded to Netanyahu's statements on Tuesday, expressing surprise at Netanyahu's remarks, especially considering Israel's recent experiences on October 7, and urging the importance of standing on the right, moral side of history.