Russia advances as war in Ukraine sees Putin's forces adopt new tactics amid uncertainty over U.S. support
CBSSep 24
Pentagon Rejects Zelenskyy's Request to Down Russian Missiles
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Above: US Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh holds a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington DC, on August 15, 2023. Image copyright: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
Israel and Ukraine are "two very different landscapes and battlefields," said Sabrina Singh, a US Department of Defense spokeswoman, at a Pentagon press conference this week.
The remark came in response to a reporter's question asking for comment on Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call this week for the US to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, similar to Washington's help in shooting down Iranian missiles headed for Israel last weekend.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
By choosing not to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, the US — and Ukraine's NATO partners — are rightly abiding by their calculated restraint in dealing with Russia in order to avoid an escalation. The situation cannot be compared to Washington's stance on the war in the Middle East, as they are vastly different landscapes and battlefields and involve unique geopolitical contexts.
Pro-Russia narrative
The US has already escalated the conflict via its endless flow of arms to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Russia's recent liberation of Ugledar shows that this has little impact on battlefield realities. Obviously, Washington will continue to spur Ukrainian leaders to mindless provocative acts. It's high time they realize that such attempts are futile and will only lead to more casualties.
