Ukraine war: USA does not want Poland's fighter jets

Created: 03/09/2022, 11:32 am

By: Stefan Krieger

US rejects Poland's offer to supply MiG-29 fighter jets.

Pentagon spokesman: "Concerns" about handing over jets to Ukraine.

WASHINGTON DC - There will initially be no delivery of fighter jets to the US base in Ramstein for subsequent transfer to Ukraine* for the fight against Russia*.

The USA has now rejected a corresponding offer from the Polish government.

"We will continue to consult with Poland and other NATO allies* on this issue and the difficult logistical challenges involved, but we do not believe that the Polish proposal is tenable," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday evening (March 9, 2022). ).

Poland had suggested that the United States could then deliver the MiG-29 machines to Ukraine, whose pilots are trained on this type.

However, Kirby said the idea of ​​the fighter jets flying into contested Ukrainian airspace from a US-NATO base "raises serious concerns throughout the NATO alliance."

Ukraine War: Ukrainian pilots trained on MiG-29s

Kirby doubted that there was any "valid justification" for this action.

He stressed that Washington's position was that the decision to hand over Polish-owned aircraft to Ukraine ultimately rested with the Polish government.

A MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force.

© Roman Pilipey/dpa

The Foreign Ministry in Warsaw had previously stated that it could make the Soviet fighter jets available to the United States "free of charge and immediately".

According to reports, the machines should then be delivered to Ukraine, whose pilots are trained on this type.

The Ukrainian Air Force pilots are trained exclusively on MiG-29 and Sukhoi-27 fighter jets.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in addition to Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria also have MiG-29s in the EU*.

Poland got its 28 machines from Germany in the early 2000s for the symbolic sum of one euro.

Ukraine war: "Different views among the allies"

Poland had previously asked the USA* to provide it with “used aircraft with the same operational capabilities” as a replacement.

Poland is ready to regulate the purchase modalities for it immediately.

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US Secretary of State Victoria Nuland had already described the Polish statement as a "surprising step".

At a Senate hearing, she said there were "a number of factors to consider here."

There are also "some different views among the allies and even within the government".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Moldova on Sunday that the US was "actively considering the issue of planes that Poland could supply to Ukraine."

At the same time, Washington is examining how it can fill the gap "should Poland decide to deliver these aircraft".

Several US media had previously reported, citing government officials in Washington, that the US could supply Poland with US-made F-16 fighter jets if Poland gave its fighter jets to Ukraine.

Ukraine war: Baerbock also rather skeptical

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* (Greens*) also expressed reservations about the considerations on Tuesday (March 8th, 2022).

You have to make sure that the war between Russia and Ukraine* does not spread to NATO territory, Baerbock told a TV station.

Even with weapons deliveries, no steep template should be given for saying "we are taking part in the war," said Baerbock. 

Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has been asking the West for warplanes to defend itself against Russian airstrikes.

"If you don't at least provide us with planes so that we can protect ourselves, then you also want us to die a slow death," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in one of his emotional appeals to the western world.

(skr with AFP/dpa)