John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the National Security Council, confirmed that the United States does not intend to take a "combat role" in Ukraine. Kirby stated, "This is a completely different battle. President Joe Biden has made it clear that there will be no American troops on the ground (in Ukraine). The United States will not take a combat role in the war in Ukraine."
In an interview with PBS, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed regret that Israeli allies provided assistance "not on paper" (implying they provided practical military help) in countering the Iranian attack, noting that Ukraine is in a different position. Zelensky asked about the presence of NATO forces on Ukrainian territory, stating: "Can they not be present in Ukraine with certain forces, because that would be seen as Ukraine dragging (NATO) into war?"
He added, "I would like to ask a question after the Iranian attack on Israel: Is Israel part of NATO or not? That is the answer then. Israel is not a NATO country, yet you helped her."
Zelensky pointed out that Russian forces managed to destroy a major power station serving Kyiv after Ukraine's defensive missiles ran out. The Ukrainian president went on to publicly urge the West to provide financial loans instead of immediate assistance, saying, "We will pay you back in the future, just give us the money!"
