Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed calls for greater NATO support to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems, stressing the urgency of protecting the country from ongoing missile and drone assaults launched by Russia, often employing Iranian-made Shahed drones. In a joint press conference following talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy reiterated his hope that NATO countries would reconsider their position and enhance Ukraine’s air defenses, citing Israel’s airspace protection as a comparable model.
Zelenskyy emphasized that defending Ukraine from Russian missile strikes and Iranian-supplied drones was fundamentally no different from Israel’s defense against Iranian missiles and drone attacks. “Joint efforts to shoot down Iranian missiles are no different from shooting down Russian ones or Iranian-delivered Shahed drones,” Zelenskyy said, underscoring the shared nature of the threats faced by both nations.
The Ukrainian president pointed to the strong military collaboration between Russia and Iran, which he said has resulted in a steady supply of drones and missiles to Moscow. These weapons have become a focal point of Ukraine’s defense efforts, causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure, power grids, and other critical sectors.
“Today, we discussed Ukraine’s air defense needs and cooperation with neighboring countries. We see how lives in the Middle East are safeguarded through unity among our allies,” Zelenskyy noted, drawing a direct comparison between the Middle East and Europe in terms of the military cooperation needed to fend off external threats.
Zelenskyy expressed his belief that NATO’s approach toward assisting Ukraine in defending its skies could evolve, particularly with mounting regional concerns. While NATO has so far refrained from committing to the full protection of Ukraine’s airspace, Zelenskyy hinted at a future where stronger cooperation might become feasible. “More determination from partners in our region is needed to put an end to Russian terror. We will continue to persuade our partners,” he added.
Despite Zelenskyy’s optimism, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte avoided directly addressing the possibility of NATO forces engaging in missile defense over Ukraine. Zelenskyy acknowledged the current limitations, noting that, for now, NATO allies are “not ready” to fully commit to such a role. This hesitation reflects broader concerns among NATO members about the risk of direct confrontation with Russia, which could potentially escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders.
This isn’t the first time President Zelenskyy has made such an appeal. He previously highlighted NATO’s capacity to defend non-member nations, drawing parallels to NATO’s response to the recent attacks on Israel. In that instance, Zelenskyy argued that NATO countries’ willingness to protect Israel, despite it not being part of the alliance, demonstrated that they could similarly safeguard Ukraine.
“Israel is not a NATO member, so no action, such as triggering Article 5, was required,” Zelenskyy stated, referring to NATO’s collective defense clause that obligates member countries to defend each other in the event of an attack. His comments were meant to emphasize that NATO can and should extend protection to Ukraine without triggering the clause.
The growing missile and drone threat has spurred discussions in neighboring countries like Poland and Romania, which share borders with Ukraine and are increasingly concerned about the conflict spilling over into their territories. Poland’s Foreign Minister has suggested that NATO countries bordering Ukraine could consider intercepting Russian missiles before they cross into NATO airspace. Although this was clarified as a personal opinion and not official policy, it speaks to the anxiety surrounding Russian attacks and the growing sense that NATO may need to take a more proactive stance.
Romania, in particular, has experienced multiple instances of Shahed drones crashing in its territory. This has prompted the country to consider legislative changes that would permit the downing of drones entering its airspace. The presence of these drones within NATO territory represents a tangible threat, further complicating the situation for NATO members adjacent to Ukraine.
While Ukraine has garnered significant political and military support from NATO countries, the United States and the United Kingdom have been clear that they will not engage in repelling Russian missile or drone attacks directly. The White House has already announced that it will not participate in shooting down drones over Ukraine, despite doing so for Israel under different circumstances.
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council, explained in early 2024 that the situations in Ukraine and Israel were fundamentally different. He described them as distinct conflicts with unique airspace and threat patterns. He also reiterated that President Joe Biden had consistently communicated that the U.S. would not engage in hostilities in Ukraine to avoid direct conflict with Russian forces, which could provoke a broader war in Europe.
Kirby warned that avoiding direct clashes between NATO and Russian troops was crucial to prevent escalation, as the consequences could be severe. While Ukraine has received advanced air defense systems, such as the Patriot missile system, Kirby emphasized that the U.S. had no intention of going beyond these measures.
Several military experts have weighed in on the challenges Ukraine faces in protecting its airspace, compared to Israel. Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlighted key logistical differences between the two nations. Israel, being smaller in size, has been able to establish a layered air defense system that can efficiently intercept missiles and drones. Israel’s geographic size allows for more concentrated defense efforts, including the use of aircraft to intercept incoming threats.
Furthermore, Israeli allies have the advantage of deploying ballistic missile defenses from ships in the Mediterranean Sea. They can also launch fighter jets from nearby regional airbases to assist with missile defense, providing a strong buffer against aerial attacks. Ukraine, by contrast, faces a significantly more complex challenge due to its larger landmass and the limitations imposed by geography, particularly the Black Sea, where U.S. forces are restricted due to Turkey’s closure of the Bosphorus Strait to most warships.
The lack of access to Ukraine’s Black Sea coast has hampered potential NATO assistance, as the United States has no ships capable of providing missile defense in the area. The restrictions also limit the feasibility of establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, a step that would require significant commitment from Western allies and could risk confrontation with Russia.
Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, emphasized the differences in the threats faced by Ukraine and Israel. While both countries are targeted by Iranian-made drones, he noted that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine are far more sophisticated and sustained than Iran’s efforts against Israel.
Hodges also pointed out that Ukraine does not receive the same level of military support that Israel enjoys. Israel benefits from active defense cooperation from regional allies such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, with additional assistance in the form of aircraft and munitions. Ukraine, on the other hand, has no such allies providing active military help in its fight against Russian aggression. Despite receiving significant military aid from the West, Ukraine’s defenses remain under constant strain.
Although Ukraine could potentially benefit from using Israel’s highly effective Iron Dome system to shield its major cities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out providing this technology to Kyiv. Nonetheless, Hodges stressed that Israel’s defense strategies hold valuable lessons for Ukraine, particularly in terms of building resilient, layered air defense networks capable of mitigating sustained aerial assaults.
President Zelenskyy’s plea for stronger NATO support highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. While the military alliance has provided significant support in terms of arms and equipment, the reluctance to directly engage in Ukrainian airspace remains a sticking point.
Zelenskyy’s comparison of Ukraine’s defense needs with those of Israel reflects the broader concern that NATO allies can and should do more to protect Ukrainian civilians from relentless missile and drone strikes. As the conflict continues to rage on, Ukraine’s calls for stronger defensive measures, including NATO-backed air defense systems, will likely intensify, along with the ongoing debate about how far the alliance is willing to go in assisting a non-member nation under attack.
