Zelenskyy Calls on West to Shoot Down Missiles in Ukraine as in Israel

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Facts

  • Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the country's Western partners to adopt a similar approach in shooting down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine as was done in Iranian attacks on Israel over the weekend.[1]
  • In the wake of Iran's attack on Saturday — which reportedly comprised of around 30 cruise missiles, 120 ballistic missiles and 170 drones — the militaries of the US, UK, France, and Jordan all participated in shooting down the projectiles. According to Israel, 99% of the aerial targets were destroyed before making landfall.[2]
  • In his nightly address on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had been calling on its 'neighbors' and 'major partners' for cooperation. '[W]e need to shoot down 'Shahed' drones, shoot down missiles together, and especially in areas close to NATO countries', he continued.[3]
  • 'This is absolutely possible,' he added. 'Every time in the Middle East, during brutal Iranian strikes, we see the international coalition acting together.'[3]
  • Zelenskyy's remarks followed a Russian attack on port and border infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, sparking a fire and injuring two lorry drivers — one of whom was of Turkish citizenship.[4]
  • On Thursday, Russia launched a fresh drone attack on Ukraine. Kyiv's Air Force said that 78 of 105 drones were destroyed.[5]

Sources: [1]Ukrainska Pravda (a), [2]Timesofisrael, [3]President, [4]Ukrainska Pravda (b) and [5]Ukrainska Pravda (c).

Narratives

  • Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Ukrainska Pravda. While Ukraine appreciates the support of partners in providing missile defenses, it has long been stating that Russian terror in Ukraine can be completely stopped if allies participated in the shooting down of targets, the efficacy of which has now been demonstrated in Israel. There's no reason this approach cannot be adopted.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Euractiv. As stated when Poland put forward a similar proposal several weeks ago, if NATO countries begin shooting down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine's skies, it would directly involve them in the conflict — a line the alliance is not willing to cross at this stage.

Predictions