The U.S. protected Israel from an attack by Iran last weekend, joining the U.K. and France in helping the Jewish State intercept a barrage of missiles and drones sent there by Iran following an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. However, when asked by a journalist during a daily briefing if the U.S. would offer similar help to Ukraine, he said it would not happen.
He replied: “I knew this question was coming. Look: different conflicts, different airspace, different threat picture. And [President Joe Biden] has been clear from the beginning [of the Ukraine hostilities] that the U.S. is not going to be involved in that conflict in a combat role.”
Although the U.S. has vowed to help Ukraine as it fends off Russia, it has maintained that it will not directly engage Russian forces.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron faced the same question in a recent interview, and he took a similar stance to Kirby, responding: “Actually, putting NATO forces directly in conflict with Russian forces – I think that would be a dangerous escalation.”
Ukrainian officials are wondering why the U.S. isn’t as willing to step in on their behalf as they are on behalf of Israel, with Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak telling NBC News that he thinks it “looks extremely strange.”
He asked: “How does the civilian population of Ukraine or the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine differ from the civilian population of Israel from a humanistic point of view?”
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He added that the fact that the Kremlin is using the same drones on Ukrainian cities that Tehran sent to Israel makes the situation even more puzzling.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also drew attention to the perceived double standard during a recent nightly address, saying: “European skies could have received the same level of protection long ago if Ukraine had received similar full support from its partners in intercepting drones and missiles.”
He said that the response to the recent attack on Israel demonstrated how NATO members can work to protect non-members and could offer similar protection to Ukraine, saying: “No one was dragged into the war. They simply contributed to the protection of human life.”
Ukraine under pressure
Ukraine is currently on edge as they struggle to hold off Russian forces that have been launching air assaults and advancing on the battlefield. Russian drones and missiles have been bombarding the country’s energy infrastructure and targeting homes for several weeks, and the population is experiencing regular rolling blackouts. Their reserves of air defense missiles and ammunition are reportedly dwindling.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently announced its long-awaited vote on supplying aid to Ukraine and Israel could come as soon as this weekend, and it looks like Ukraine won’t be able to complain that Israel is getting better treatment in the financial department.
The House Appropriations Committee has unveiled legislation that would earmark $60.84 billion for addressing the Ukraine conflict, which includes replenishing U.S. stocks, weapons and facilities, while the Israeli bill sees $26.38 billion going to support Israel and cover the cost of American military operations in response to the recent attacks there.
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