White House Explains Difference Between Ukraine and Israel Military Support

The State Department told reporters that Washington's relationship with Ukraine is "entirely different" than its partnership with Israel amid questions over the United States' involvement in both nations' conflicts.

Kyiv officials have asked its Western allies for more direct support in its fight against Russia after a coalition of militaries—including the U.S., United Kingdom and France—helped Israel defend itself against a barrage of missiles launched by Iran on Saturday. The majority of the 300 drones shot by Tehran were intercepted before they could reach Israeli territory, partially in thanks to the aircraft and air defense systems mobilized by President Joe Biden to the region.

But while the Biden administration remains adamant in continuing to support Ukraine's military amid its more than two-year war, Washington has stopped short of sending its own troops to battle in Eastern Europe, and that line that does not appear to be crossed anytime soon.

"I think it is important to note the context that we have an entirely different relationship with Ukraine and Israel, in that our relationship with Israel goes back decades in terms of a security partnership," said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who fielded questions during a press briefing Tuesday.

"We have had a decades-long security partnership with Israel where we have been providing them direct aid, not just going back two years of a conflict, but for decades," he continued, adding that Ukraine was "just in a different position."

"We did not have that kind of agreement with them prior to the immediate months out before" the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, Miller said. "But what you have seen us do since this conflict is provide [Ukraine] with the equipment they need to defend themselves."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the West's joint effort to protect Israel during his nightly address on Monday, saying that it proved more direct steps could be taken by NATO countries in Eastern Europe without dragging the alliance "into the war."

But Miller said that in order for Washington to send planes "to be in the skies over Ukraine," the U.S. would have to be in an armed military conflict with Russia.

"And we are not going to be in direct armed conflict with Russia," he continued. "The president of the United States has been made that very clear, and I think it's in the interest of the American people that we not be in direct armed conflict with Russia, because we do not want World War III."

"That said, we are entirely committed to the defense of Ukraine," Miller said. "We have proved that over the past two years. The president has proved that."

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense via email for comment Monday night.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby gave a similar answer during a press briefing on Monday when asked why Washington was not helping Ukraine "shoot down" drones over its airspace like it had done for Israel.

"Different conflicts, different airspace, different threat picture," Kirby said, who also highlighted Biden's promise to not put the U.S. in a "combat role" against Russia.

Miller and Kirby also put a spotlight on Republicans in Congress who have blocked efforts to provide additional military assistance to Ukraine. The State Department spokesman said Tuesday that passing a supplemental spending bill "would allow us to provide more equipment, including more air defense systems to Ukraine that they very much need."

Additional aid has been held up in the House of Representatives for months, although Speaker Mike Johnson indicated on Monday that he will push action toward voting on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan this week. The current plan by House leadership is to hold four separate votes on parts of a $95 billion aid package that the Senate passed in February.

It's unclear if the House will end up with a package similar to the Senate bill. Johnson told reporters Monday, "We will let the House work its will."