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During the meeting of NATO defense ministers
Photo: Olivier Matthys / dpa
The Brussels meeting of more than 50 allies of Ukraine ended without any significant commitments.
After the deliberations of the so-called Ukraine contact group, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin listed a number of weapons deliveries that had already been announced - including the main battle tanks that Germany and ten other countries had promised Kiev.
"I don't have any aircraft announcements today," Austin said of the fighter jet debate.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov personally took part in the talks at NATO headquarters.
Among other things, he called on the allies on Twitter to quickly strengthen the "tank coalition" and more ammunition.
He also waved the image of a fighter plane as he entered.
During his European tour last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded warplanes from Western partners in order to be able to defend themselves against the expected Russian offensive.
Poland's defense minister is putting pressure on
Poland's Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak had also put pressure on the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine in the run-up to the meeting.
Poland alone cannot do much, said Blaszczak.
The allies would have much more potential.
"That's why I think these talks will end positively," says Blaszczak.
You just have to apply pressure.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he did not want to fundamentally rule out the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.
"Support for Ukraine has evolved as has the war itself," Stoltenberg said.
"Now planes are also being discussed, and I expect this to be addressed at the meeting in Brussels tomorrow," said Stoltenberg.
In Brussels, on the other hand, Austin confirmed US President Joe Biden's assessment that he did not want to deliver any F-16 fighter jets to Kiev.
At the same time, the Pentagon chief rejected reports that the United States had prevented Poland from delivering MiG-29 aircraft.
The decision rests with Warsaw alone, Washington would never "dictate" it, Austin emphasized.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also kept a low profile on the delivery of fighter jets.
Scholz only appealed to the European states to make the promised battle tanks available for Ukraine.
"I'm very happy that many are willing to do this," said Scholz during a visit to Belgium.
"I also hope that happens," he adds.
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the background to this is the sluggish process of making the Leopard main battle tanks available.
Both Denmark and the Netherlands are said to have backed down on this.
According to information from the world, both countries should not send tanks to Ukraine.
ssi/Reuters/AFP
