Russia advances as war in Ukraine sees Putin's forces adopt new tactics amid uncertainty over U.S. support
CBSSEP 2024
Pentagon Rejects Zelenskyy's Request to Down Russian Missiles
Above: US Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh holds a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington DC, on August 15, 2023. Image copyright: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
By choosing not to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, the US — and Ukraine's NATO partners — are rightly abiding by their calculated restraint in dealing with Russia in order to avoid an escalation. The situation cannot be compared to Washington's stance on the war in the Middle East, as they are vastly different landscapes and battlefields and involve unique geopolitical contexts.
Pro-Russia narrative
The US has already escalated the conflict via its endless flow of arms to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Russia's recent liberation of Ugledar shows that this has little impact on battlefield realities. Obviously, Washington will continue to spur Ukrainian leaders to mindless provocative acts. It's high time they realize that such attempts are futile and will only lead to more casualties.