٠٠:٠٢:١٤Madatort credit: US State Department
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said it was 'a bit absurd' to compare US support for Israel with that for Ukraine, after being repeatedly questioned about Washington's direct involvement in shooting down Iranian missiles at the weekend, during a briefing on Monday.
"You just described perfectly well how successfully the US and allies came up with co-ordinated response, they defended their ally against drones and missiles coming from a terrorist state," the journalist began. "This is exactly what the Ukrainian people have been asking for two years..."
"I knew this was not going to be about the region, Alex," Miller responded, before the reporter stated that 'the question I keep hearing from Ukrainian people' is 'why do you think they don’t deserve the same?'
"If you look at our commitment to Ukraine, it has included significant provision of missile defence to allow the Ukrainian military to shoot down drones and missiles and attacks on the Ukrainian people," Miller responded, before the reporter tried again.
"What happened in Israel last week happens in Ukraine every week," he said. "My question is which one, which US that they have seen on TV yesterday, which US is the true friend of Ukraine? That’s my question."
"I am just going to completely reject the premise of that question," Miller replied. I don’t think it accurately represents the United States commitment to Ukraine….So I think the premise of the question, frankly, is just a bit absurd, because it does not match the reality of our record."
US National Security spokesperson John Kirby was also asked a similar question during his own briefing on Monday, and claimed it was a matter of 'different conflicts, different airspace [and] different threat picture'.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The US, UK and Jordan all assisted in the shooting down the projectiles, with the IDF claiming '99 percent' had been intercepted. The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
The latest tranche of support for both Ukraine and Israel - a $95 billion package - is currently blocked in the US Congress. Republicans in particular are concerned about the scale and effectiveness of the Ukrainian funding, with many calling for more aid for domestic border security instead. Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional funding for the conflict with Russia, while Moscow has accused Western countries of escalating the situation.
Ukrainian people are asking, why not them too? Reporter takes on State Dept over backing for Israel against Iranian strikes
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said it was 'a bit absurd' to compare US support for Israel with that for Ukraine, after being repeatedly questioned about Washington's direct involvement in shooting down Iranian missiles at the weekend, during a briefing on Monday.
"You just described perfectly well how successfully the US and allies came up with co-ordinated response, they defended their ally against drones and missiles coming from a terrorist state," the journalist began. "This is exactly what the Ukrainian people have been asking for two years..."
"I knew this was not going to be about the region, Alex," Miller responded, before the reporter stated that 'the question I keep hearing from Ukrainian people' is 'why do you think they don’t deserve the same?'
"If you look at our commitment to Ukraine, it has included significant provision of missile defence to allow the Ukrainian military to shoot down drones and missiles and attacks on the Ukrainian people," Miller responded, before the reporter tried again.
"What happened in Israel last week happens in Ukraine every week," he said. "My question is which one, which US that they have seen on TV yesterday, which US is the true friend of Ukraine? That’s my question."
"I am just going to completely reject the premise of that question," Miller replied. I don’t think it accurately represents the United States commitment to Ukraine….So I think the premise of the question, frankly, is just a bit absurd, because it does not match the reality of our record."
US National Security spokesperson John Kirby was also asked a similar question during his own briefing on Monday, and claimed it was a matter of 'different conflicts, different airspace [and] different threat picture'.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The US, UK and Jordan all assisted in the shooting down the projectiles, with the IDF claiming '99 percent' had been intercepted. The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
The latest tranche of support for both Ukraine and Israel - a $95 billion package - is currently blocked in the US Congress. Republicans in particular are concerned about the scale and effectiveness of the Ukrainian funding, with many calling for more aid for domestic border security instead. Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional funding for the conflict with Russia, while Moscow has accused Western countries of escalating the situation.
Madatort credit: US State Department
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said it was 'a bit absurd' to compare US support for Israel with that for Ukraine, after being repeatedly questioned about Washington's direct involvement in shooting down Iranian missiles at the weekend, during a briefing on Monday.
"You just described perfectly well how successfully the US and allies came up with co-ordinated response, they defended their ally against drones and missiles coming from a terrorist state," the journalist began. "This is exactly what the Ukrainian people have been asking for two years..."
"I knew this was not going to be about the region, Alex," Miller responded, before the reporter stated that 'the question I keep hearing from Ukrainian people' is 'why do you think they don’t deserve the same?'
"If you look at our commitment to Ukraine, it has included significant provision of missile defence to allow the Ukrainian military to shoot down drones and missiles and attacks on the Ukrainian people," Miller responded, before the reporter tried again.
"What happened in Israel last week happens in Ukraine every week," he said. "My question is which one, which US that they have seen on TV yesterday, which US is the true friend of Ukraine? That’s my question."
"I am just going to completely reject the premise of that question," Miller replied. I don’t think it accurately represents the United States commitment to Ukraine….So I think the premise of the question, frankly, is just a bit absurd, because it does not match the reality of our record."
US National Security spokesperson John Kirby was also asked a similar question during his own briefing on Monday, and claimed it was a matter of 'different conflicts, different airspace [and] different threat picture'.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The US, UK and Jordan all assisted in the shooting down the projectiles, with the IDF claiming '99 percent' had been intercepted. The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
The latest tranche of support for both Ukraine and Israel - a $95 billion package - is currently blocked in the US Congress. Republicans in particular are concerned about the scale and effectiveness of the Ukrainian funding, with many calling for more aid for domestic border security instead. Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional funding for the conflict with Russia, while Moscow has accused Western countries of escalating the situation.