Drones and missiles repelled
Zelenskyj asks for the same protection as for Israel
April 16, 2024, 9:53 a.m
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The Ukrainians can only watch it with envy: Iran is attacking Israel with more than 300 drones and missiles, but there is no major damage, also thanks to the support of its allies. President Zelensky is now calling on the West to do the same to protect his country from terror.
Following the united response from international allies to Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on his allies to show the same “unity” towards Ukraine as they have towards Israel. “In defending Israel, the free world has proven that such unity is not only possible, but also one hundred percent effective,” explained Zelensky.
“The same is possible when it comes to protecting Ukraine, which, like Israel, is not a NATO member, from terror,” he continued. This requires “political will”.
Zelensky thanked allies who responded to Ukraine’s requests for more air defense, but stressed that “the intensity of Russian attacks requires more unity.” Russia has recently reported increasing successes in its war of aggression in Ukraine, while Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of ammunition.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also referred to Israel: “We see that not a single missile reaches its target when the allies pull together and act in a coordinated manner,” he said. “Give us what we need, we will do the rest of the work,” he added, referring to the arms deliveries demanded by Kiev. This is “everything we demand from our partners”.
Green thought leader Fücks also calls for more help
Green Party thinker Ralf Fücks also called on the West to support Israel after Israel and Ukraine with modern air defense and fighter jets. “Ukraine is exposed to Russian missile and drone attacks almost every day – and a large proportion of these drones come from Iranian production or have an Iranian patent,” said the head of the Center Liberal Modernity think tank to “Stern”. “Why are we hesitant to give Ukraine the opportunity to defend itself better? Why don’t we defend Ukraine just as resolutely as Israel?” continued Fücks.
Fücks also considers the use of Western combat aircraft to be covered by international law. “Close the sky – that was a central demand of Ukraine right from the beginning of the war. The USA and its European partners always rejected that because they feared the risk of direct participation in the war,” he said. “But that is not the case under international law. Participation in the defense of Iranian drones did not make the USA, France or Great Britain a warring party against Iran. That was aiding and abetting Israel’s self-defense. It would be the same in Ukraine.”
Iran attacked Israel directly from its territory for the first time on Sunday night. According to Israeli information, almost all of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran were repelled. Israel was supported by the USA, Great Britain and Jordan, among others.