Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, raised a pointed question on Wednesday, questioning why Western armies swiftly assisted Israel in repelling a significant drone and missile attack by Iran while not extending similar aid to Ukraine. Her remarks came as European Union leaders convened for talks in Brussels.
Kallas, known for her vocal criticism of the Kremlin and spearheading efforts to bolster European support for Ukraine’s war effort, drew parallels between recent events in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict on the EU’s doorstep.
“Observing the cooperation among various countries in repelling Iran’s attack against Israel highlights the potential for further action,” remarked Kallas.
“We could offer air defense support to Ukraine in a similar fashion, enabling them to thwart incoming attacks,” she advocated.
Iran’s deployment of over 300 drones and missiles followed an April 1 strike on its consulate in Damascus, attributed mainly to Israel. However, Israel’s air defenses intercepted the majority of the incoming projectiles, with assistance from US, British, French, and Jordanian forces.
Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to demonstrate the same “unity” toward Ukraine as shown to Israel. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba specifically called for similar aerial defense coverage for Kyiv.
“These are the same drones assaulting Ukraine incessantly,” emphasized Kallas, pointing to Iran-designed Shahed attack drones deployed by Russian forces against Ukraine.
“If these allies can neutralize them there, they can do so in Ukraine,” Kallas asserted.
The Estonian Prime Minister emphasized the potential for collaboration and action, as Ukraine increasingly pleads for enhanced Western assistance, including sophisticated air defense systems to counter devastating Russian assaults on its infrastructure.
