The US is not going to meet Kyiv's request to shoot down Russian missiles and drones in Ukraine's airspace because of the risk of starting a nuclear conflict with Moscow, sources have informed, reports Politico.eu.

Before that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was angry because the US participates in repelling Iran's attacks against Israel, but refuses to use its armed forces to destroy Russian missiles.

The reason why is clear: Russia is armed with nuclear weapons and Iran isn’t.

“The tough answer that Ukrainians may not like to hear but is unfortunately true is that we can take the risk of shooting down Iranian missiles over Israel without triggering direct war with Tehran that could lead to nuclear war,” a senior U.S. Senate aide who works on Ukraine policy told Politico. “There’s a lot more risk in trying that with Russia.”

Two Biden administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter candidly, made the same point.

Politico added that Washington has enough air defense systems on ships to help Israel. But for the destruction of Russian missiles and drones in the Ukrainian airspace, which in its territory considerably exceeds that of Israel, the US will have to send its air defense ground complexes and fighters there. And such measures would lead to a direct confrontation with the Russian Armed Forces, which the White House would like to avoid, Politico noted.

Earlier, Sabrina Singh, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, had informed that the destruction of Russian missiles by Western armed forces in Ukraine would mean US engagement in the conflict. That's how she commented on the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles on the territory of Poland or Romania.