Attacks on Israel and Ukraine cannot be compared – EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative

Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that the situation in Ukraine and Israel cannot be compared.

Source: European Pravda citing Josep Borrell at a press conference following the meeting of EU foreign ministers on 16 April

Details: Borrell said the situation when Western allies helped Israel shoot down Iranian missiles and drones and the situation with Russian attacks in Ukraine are "two distinct things that cannot be compared."

First of all, he recalled that Israel has a multi-level air defence system called the Iron Dome, and deploying its equivalent in Europe would require a lot of time and financial resources that are not available.

"Secondly, the Iranian attack involved missiles passing across air bases belonging to France, the United States and Jordan, who also defended their bases. This is not happening in Ukraine. Either there are no air bases belonging to the US, the UK or Jordan," the EU's top diplomat added.

At the same time, Borrell stressed that he believed it was necessary for the EU to strengthen the capabilities of Ukraine's air defence.

"On Monday (22 April – ed.), when the defence ministers [of the EU member states] meet, I hope that we will have some very concrete commitments in this direction," he said earlier during a press conference.

Background: 

• Previously, following a recent meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Zelenskyy said that Western powers could help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks in the same way they helped Israel against Iranian strikes.
• The White House stated that the United States refused to take any combat role in the war in Ukraine, so it will not shoot down Iranian drones launched by Russia, as it did with allies last weekend in Israel.

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