"We don't see Russia massing air forces to launch an offensive, but certainly Moscow continues to have great aviation capabilities."
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III said so in a press conference at the end of the Ramstein format meeting in Brussels.
"Ukraine has done a good job of intercepting Russian missiles and we want them to have all the means to defend themselves, even if the Russians decide to deploy the air force," Austin added.
Austin's statement comes after the Dutch defense ministry said two of its F-35 fighter jets yesterday intercepted a formation of three Russian warplanes over Poland and escorted them out of that airspace.
The aircraft "approached NATO's Polish area of responsibility from Kaliningrad," the ministry said, explaining that eight of its Dutch F-35s are stationed in Poland this month and next.
The Russian air formation consisted of "three aircraft: an Ilyushin IL-20M Coot-A escorted by two Su-27 Flankers," the Defense Ministry specified.
Russia has begun deploying nuclear-armed tactical ships in the Baltic Sea for the first time in 30 years.
This was stated by the Norwegian intelligence service in its annual report, quoted by Politico.
ANSA Agency
'Russian ships with nuclear weapons in the Baltic' - World
Warning from the Norwegian services, it is the first time for 30 years (ANSA)
The US defense secretary also specified that he has no "announcement on the jet issue" to make.
"We are focused on delivering the already promised capabilities to Ukraine," he added.
On the hypothesis that Poland could deliver its Mig-29s, in the past according to some
blocked by Washington, Austin specified that it is a "decision of the country's leadership" and the US has never interfered.
On the other hand, however, the Financial Times claims that Western intelligence services have warned that the Russians are massing fighter jets and
helicopters on the border with Ukraine to support a new ground offensive.
Quoting two officials briefed on the warning, the newspaper claims that in meetings with allied countries supporting Ukraine, Austin underlined the threat of Russian air power.
"We have a short window to help the Ukrainians prepare for the offensive. The Russian ground forces are pretty much on the corner, so it's likely they will target the planes," said a senior American official.
Meanwhile, General Mark Milley, chief of the US General Staff, speaking at the same press conference in which Secretary Austin spoke, said that in Ukraine "Russia has lost, strategically, operationally and tactically. But until Putin stops war we will continue to equip Kiev with the equipment it needs to deal with the barbarous Russian invasion."
"The priority now is to deliver the tanks, the Leopards and the others that have been promised, as well as the armored infantry vehicles - said NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg opening the meeting in Brussels - And that's what the allies are doing "Then you have to make sure there's ammunition. Jets aren't the most pressing issue right now, but the conversation is ongoing because Ukraine's needs evolve as the war unfolds."
Ukraine: losses of Russian soldiers never so high since the beginning of the war
And an initial assessment of supplies came from Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren: "At least 100 Leopard 1s" will be delivered to Ukraine after being refurbished,
has
secured by arriving at the Ramstein format meeting in Brussels.
"We don't have tanks but we are part of the coalition with financial contributions", explained the minister, noting that in 2022 the Netherlands have disbursed 1 billion euros in aid to Ukraine and for 2023 around 2.5 billion have already been allocated aside in the state budget.
The Ukrainians have asked the Netherlands to supply F-16s and we "take this request seriously but we must evaluate together with our allies and the US", he added. "It is a discussion that is best held behind closed doors but will take time and Kiev knows that giving F-16s is not the same as giving tanks". Norway, for its part, has decided to donate eight Leopard 2 tanks, ammunition, spare parts and up to four support vehicles to Ukraine .
