After Iran’s attack on Israel on Saturday night politicians are asking why is Ukrainian “airspace” not being defended in the same way the US and UK RAF warplanes protected Israel from missiles and drones.
Czech officials who have given their support for Israel are now asking the question why Ukraine is not receiving a coordinated international response similar to what Israel has received.
On Saturday Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones and Ukraine can receive more than this most nights since the war started in February 2022.
The US, the British RAF, Jordan and France were involved in defending Israel on Saturday evening shooting down missiles and drones.
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However during an interview with LBC’s Nick Ferrari the Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was asked why the RAF cannot do the same over the skies in Ukraine.
Lord Cameron told LBC, “We’ve done more than any other country individually to help the Ukrainians. We’ve trained over 60,000 Ukrainian troops, we were the first to give them anti-tank weapons, long-range artillery and tanks.”
Lord Cameron then warned that using British assets against Russia could escalate.
He said, “I think the difficulty with what you suggest is if you want to avoid an escalation in terms of a wider European war, I think the one thing you do need to avoid is NATO troops directly engaging Russian troops. That would be a danger of escalation.”
The Foreign Secretary warned, “Actually putting NATO forces directly in conflict with Russian forces, I think that would be a dangerous escalation.
Ferrari asked why the RAF cannot be “shooting down unmanned drones,” he added “We do it for Israel, why not Ukraine?” Lord Cameron said it was an “interesting question.”
He replied by saying that using fighter jets is “not necessarily the best way of shooting down missiles and drones, air defence systems are more effective.
However, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told journalists in Downing Street, “I can confirm that our planes did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones.
“I want to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of our pilots flying into the face of danger to protect civilians.”
In response to the attack the Czech the Foreign Ministry said, “Czechia firmly condemns the destabilising behaviour of Iran and its proxies who decided to attack Israel. We reiterate the Israeli right to self-defence.
“Iran’s long term aggressive behavior is preventing the Middle East region to live in peace and security.”
Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák (STAN) posted on X, “The Ayatollah’s overnight attack on Israel was successfully repelled thanks to a swift international response and a willingness to defend airspace.
“It is a pity that we do not defend the airspace over Ukraine with the same vigour…”
“Ukraine deserves the same forceful defence that Israel rightly received from its allies last night,” Danuše Nerudová, the leading candidate of STAN for European elections, wrote on X.
Czech MEP Markéta Gregorová (Pirates, Greens) said, “I totally condemn Iran’s attack on Israel.
“In light of Scholz’s promise yesterday to supply Ukraine with more Patriots, I believe that the West will finally help build air defences that also protect Ukrainian civilians.”
