NATO countries refuse to intercept missiles and drones over Ukraine – Pentagon
The countries of the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) will not shoot down missiles and UAVs over the territory of Ukraine because such actions will involve them in a war with Russia.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the US Ministry of Defense, Sabrina Singh, reported that.
As she puts it, the assistance of allies in taking down hostile drones flying over Israel and carrying out similar operations in Ukraine is like "two very different landscapes and battlefields."
Singh noted that US President Joe Biden, at the very beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "directed this department to provide Ukraine what it needs on the battlefield."
Ukraine's armed forces have successfully used air defenses and other capabilities to continue to win back their territory.
"The secretary just had a call with Mr. Umerov, getting that battlefield update, getting to better understand what other capabilities they might need, if any. The president has made a commitment that the United States is not putting boots on the ground into Ukraine, but we are supporting Ukraine in their efforts to take back their sovereign territory," she said.
When asked whether the shooting down of enemy targets from the territory of Romania or Poland can be considered such a "boot," Singh replied that it would involve the countries of the West in the war.
"That would be involving us in a war in a different way. And right now, we feel that Ukraine has been able to successfully defend against Russian strikes to their cities, to their populations, to their infrastructure. And we're going to continue to make sure that they have the support they need to do that," the deputy spokesperson of the Pentagon said.
For reference:
Official Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to neighboring countries for help in shooting down Russian missiles and drones flying into the airspace and approaching the western borders of NATO countries.
On Thursday, October 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Kyiv will continue to persuade its partners to take down Russian drones and missiles. He emphasized the urgency of resolving this matter before the start of winter.
In turn, Rutte noted that the decision to shoot down drones and missiles that violate the airspace of NATO countries is made by national authorities.
Later, Zelensky stated that the lack of decisions by NATO countries on joint defense is one of the main reasons for the lack of security in the Ukrainian skies.
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