Ukraine: Western Allies Pledge to Boost Air Defenses

Image copyright: The US Department of Defense

The Facts

  • Ukraine's Western allies pledged to form a new coalition of 20 countries dedicated to improving Ukraine's air defenses this week — a move welcomed by Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

  • In his nightly address on Wednesday, Zelenskyy thanked France and Germany for their leadership in forming the group. "I am also grateful to every country that participates in these efforts," he added. "Not everything can be said publicly yet, but Ukraine's sky shield is getting more powerful literally every month."


The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

While some may argue the war has reached a stalemate, the term's not a good one as war isn't like chess — where a position can stall due to a lack of pieces. Here, the US and its Western allies can continue to provide Ukraine with pieces. Namely, continued military aid that breaks the technological impasse, including better air defenses that help Ukraine stave off Russian attacks.

Pro-Russia narrative

Ten years on from Euromaidan, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the West's misguided policy of using Ukraine as a weapon to try and weaken Russia is only leaving Ukraine in ruins. Russia was forced to take measures to protect the Donbas, and for Ukraine, it has only led to destruction and the loss of land. Nonetheless, the West continues to feed the fantasy that Ukraine can militarily defeat Russia, all to Ukraine's detriment.


Metaculus Prediction


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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