Germany refuses to protect Ukraine from Russian missiles

According to RIA Novosti, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on July 18 rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request that Western countries shoot down Russian missiles in Ukrainian airspace.

Earlier, speaking at the European Political Community Summit in London, President Zelensky once again called on Western allies to shoot down Russian missiles and drones in Ukrainian airspace, similar to what happened to Iranian missiles and drones in the recent attack on Israel.

“I see that there is a consensus that such a step cannot have foreseen consequences. The US also has a very clear position on this issue,” Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said, answering journalists’ questions about Mr. Zelensky’s request.

Kiev officials have previously called on Western countries to shoot down missiles flying over Ukraine from their territory. The Associated Press reported that in late June 2024, Kiev was pushing its European allies to establish a no-fly zone over western Ukraine by deploying air defense systems in Poland and Romania.

Earlier, Reuters quoted Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk as saying that Warsaw wanted to raise the question of whether Poland could shoot down missiles flying over Ukraine at the NATO Summit in Washington.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on July 15 that the alliance's policy has not changed and that it will not directly participate in the conflict. Meanwhile, US President's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Ukraine must take responsibility for its own air defense and airspace protection without relying on the participation of third-party forces.