Zelenskyy shocked by West's assistance in repelling Iran's attack on Israel

Archive photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Western countries helped Israel to repel the recent Iranian attack, although the country is not a NATO member and does not have a strong alliance document with the Alliance, stated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his interview with Hugo Decrypte.

According to Zelenskyy, the US Congress began to pay attention to the problem with the onset of the crisis and challenges in the Middle East, and the American media is doing the same.

"Let's be frank, the majority of them are looking at what is happening in Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East in general," he said.

The President clarified that the situation with Israel and Iran attracts less attention and time for Ukraine, which means less attention from the society as well. Zelenskyy explained that if society reacts less, then there is less responsibility on political leaders, thus aid may also decrease.

Zelenskyy was shocked by the West's reaction

"Well, to be honest, I am shocked by what happened after Iran's strikes on Israel. I am shocked by how the Allies responded. Initially, it was a very positive reaction," he said.

The President clarified that after Iran attacked Israel, there were victims, but their number was small. Anyway, it deserves condolences. However, the President said that allies helped Israel even though the country is not a NATO member. Zelenskyy also stated that he did not see a very serious and powerful document between France and Israel, such as between the US and Israel, or a similar document between Israel and NATO.

"So, we just saw how the armies, pilots, and weapons of several allied states destroyed 99% of everything flying towards Israelis from Iran. That's what we saw. And why was I shocked? Because of this: what's wrong with us? What's wrong with Ukrainians?" added the President.

What preceded it

Iran recently launched a drone and missile attack on Israel, with Western countries helping to repel it. Zelenskyy condemned Iran's attack and said that Ukraine needs support from partners, not just their rhetoric and opinions.

As justification, the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, stated that Western countries cannot use the example of the Iranian attack on Israel to intercept Russian missiles or drones attacking Ukraine, because in the first case, they shot down aerial targets over their airbases, thus acting in self-defense.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller gave four reasons why the United States does not help Ukraine shoot down Russian missiles and drones, as it did with Iranian ones in Israel.