Ukraine’s frustration is mounting as the U.S. deploys advanced air defense systems to shield Israel, but Kyiv’s pleas for the same support go unanswered. President Zelenskyy recently questioned why American allies are willing to knock down missiles in the Middle East but hesitate when it comes to Russian drones over Ukraine, leaving Kyiv feeling increasingly sidelined.
As U.S. leaders ramp up defenses for Israel, citing the nuclear threat as a restraint on intervention in Ukraine, experts warn that this cautious stance may embolden nuclear-armed nations like Russia. “The tough answer Ukrainians don’t want to hear is that we risk nuclear war with Russia, but not Iran,” said a U.S. Senate aide.
NATO allies, including Poland and Romania, have scrambled jets in response to Russian missile misfires over their borders but remain wary of full-scale intervention, which could prompt dangerous confrontations with Moscow. “For the West to defend Ukraine’s skies, it would mean a much larger contribution with greater risk,” explained Matthew Savill from the Royal United Services Institute.
Zelenskyy’s call for parity underscores the growing perception in Kyiv that nuclear-armed countries enjoy a level of deference withheld from others. This fear may drive nations like Iran to rethink nuclear options, cautioned Ukrainian analyst Mykola Bielieskov. In Kyiv’s view, U.S. restraint towards Russia, though a nod to de-escalation, may be indirectly nudging a dangerous trend in nuclear proliferation—a scenario that Ukraine fears could reshape global defense dynamics.
