-Analysis-
PARIS — Seeing how effectively Israel and its Western allies destroyed 99% of the more than 300 missiles and drones launched by Iran on Saturday, you may have thought, as I did: if it’s possible there, why not in Ukraine?
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Ukrainians asked themselves the same question, starting of course with President Volodymyr Zelensky who, in his daily address to the nation, praised how the “free world has demonstrated such unity” and efficiency in defending Israel, before adding “the same is possible in defending Ukraine.”
More bitterly, Ukrainian commentators wonder whether they are second-class allies compared to Israelis for not being receiving the same solidarity against the same threat.
Different obstacles
There is a lot to be bitter about. For months, Ukrainian cities have been the target of Russian missiles and drones — many are the same as the Iranian drones launched against Israel on Saturday night — that Tehran delivers to Russia. Despite its progress, Ukraine’s air defense cannot prevent residential buildings or critical infrastructures, such as Kyiv’s power station, from being hit. The Israeli example shows that it is possible to get close to a 100% success rate.
At every stage of military aid, the same logic: hesitation, before taking any further steps.
But the West believes the two situations are not entirely comparable. First, Iran is a little more than 1,000 miles from Israel, and its missiles and drones fly over other countries for hours. Many were shot down in Jordan’s airspace. Russia and Ukraine are neighbours, and Russian engines do not take much time to reach Kharkiv or even Kyiv.
Yet we know the obstacle is primarily political. America and its allies do not want to take the risk of confronting Russia head-on, where they have little to fear with Iran.
Squeezing aid for Kyiv
As soon as Russia invaded 26 months ago, Zelensky called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which would have protected the major cities. His request was rejected: we do risk confrontation with a nuclear power. Since then, at every stage of military aid, the same logic has prevailed: hesitation, before taking any further steps.
Ukrainians are not pleased when they see Americans, even when they disagree with Israel’s methods in Gaza, deliver the weapons and ammunition Israel needs, and come to its rescue when Iranian drones arrive. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army suffers from ammunition shortages, lacks air defense batteries and will only receive the promised F-16 fighter jets in a few weeks.
Following Washington politics only makes their bitterness grow, when they see that despite the promise of a NATO membership, aid for their country is still blocked in Congress. A last effort is underway to unblock it, but the aim is first and foremost to provide emergency aid to Israel, on which there is greater consensus among U.S. politicians.
Despite their differences, comparing the two situations is cruel. After believing themselves to be on the front line in the fight for freedom, Ukrainians are realizing they take a back seat when the Middle East starts going up in flames.
