Aid to Ukraine: US considers supplying fighter jets for war

Created: 03/07/2022, 10:45 am

By: Nail Akkoyun

Poland could soon deliver several such MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

An agreement with the US could make this possible.

© Roman Pilipey/dpa

Ukraine is hoping for US fighter jets to ward off Russian airstrikes.

An agreement should remedy the situation.

Washington DC – The USA* are currently examining how deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine* could be facilitated.

This is what Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said on Sunday (March 6, 2022) to the US television broadcaster CBS.

Since NATO* has so far decided against a no-fly zone in the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj* had also asked European countries for combat aircraft.

With their help, Russian air attacks can be repelled.

Ukraine war: US Secretary of State Blinken is optimistic – and counts on Poland

A proposed deal that would have envisaged the supply of Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine by former Eastern Bloc countries recently fell through.

US officials told the Wall Street Journal on Saturday (03/05/2022) that they are therefore examining an agreement with Poland.

In this case, Poland would supply Ukraine with used fighter jets from Russia*, while the US would provide Poland with several F-16 fighter jets.

"We are currently discussing with our Polish friends what we can do to meet their needs if they decide to provide the Ukrainians with these fighter jets," US Secretary of Defense Blinken said.

“How can we help them get something to replace the planes they are giving to the Ukrainians?

We are in very active discussions with them," he added.

Fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine: Poland has not yet made a decision

However, Poland has denied reports that the country plans to equip Ukraine with Soviet-designed fighter jets.

“Poland will not send its fighter jets to Ukraine, nor will it allow its airports to be used.

We help significantly in many other areas," the government in Warsaw wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

She referred to a statement by the Polish General Staff on Thursday (03/03/2022).

It said that all Polish MiG-29 fighter jets remained at their home bases and that they were also marked with the red and white national emblem of the Polish Air Force.

A government spokesman in Warsaw said the discussion about handing over the aircraft is still ongoing, but no decision has yet been made.

It also does not correspond to the facts that planes would start from Poland for combat purposes in the conflict zones of the Ukraine war*.

Regarding Ukraine's demand that Germany should also deliver fighter jets to Ukraine*, Defense Minister Annalena Baerbock pointed out that Ukraine could do little with Western aircraft because their pilots were trained on Russian equipment.

(nak/dpa)