Poland on Thursday introduced it plans to offer Ukraine with a dozen of MiG-29 fighter jets, in a transfer that will mark the primary such cargo by a NATO member to fulfil Kyiv’s more and more pressing requests for warplanes.
President Andrzej Duda mentioned Poland would hand over 4 of the Soviet-made warplanes “within the next few days” and that the remaining wanted servicing and can be provided later.
The Polish phrase he used to explain the full quantity can imply between 11 and 19.
“They are in the last years of their functioning, but they are in good working condition,” Duda mentioned of the plane.
He didn’t say whether or not different international locations would observe go well with, though Slovakia has mentioned it could ship its personal disused MiGs to Ukraine. Poland additionally was the primary NATO nation to offer Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
On Wednesday, Polish authorities spokesperson Piotr Mueller mentioned another international locations additionally had pledged MiGs to Kyiv, however didn’t identify them. Both Poland and Slovakia had indicated they have been prepared at hand over their planes, however solely as a part of a wider worldwide coalition doing the identical.
The authorities in neighboring NATO member Germany appeared caught off guard by Duda’s announcement.
“So far, everyone has agreed that it’s not the time to send fighter jets,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius advised reporters. “I don’t have any confirmation from Poland yet that this has happened.”
US knowledgeable of plans
The U.S. was knowledgeable of Poland’s determination to offer Ukraine with jets, the White House mentioned on Thursday.
“We continue to closely coordinate with our allies and partners, including Poland, as we provide assistance to Ukraine,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre advised reporters.
Washington known as Poland’s transfer a sovereign determination and lauded the Poles for persevering with to “punch above their weight” in helping Kyiv.
But the U.S. administration burdened that Poland’s transfer would don’t have any bearing on President Joe Biden, who has resisted calls to offer U.S. F-16s to Ukraine.
“There’s no change in our view with respect to fighter aircraft at this time,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby mentioned.
“That is our sovereign decision. That is where we are, other nations can speak to their own” selections.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine had a number of dozen MiG-29s it inherited within the collapse of the Soviet Union, nevertheless it’s unclear what number of of them stay in service after greater than a 12 months of combating.
The debate over whether or not to offer non-NATO nation Ukraine with fighter jets began final 12 months, however NATO allies expressed concern about escalating the alliance’s position within the struggle. The hesitation continued at the same time as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made more and more vocal pleas for Western supporters to share their warplanes.
Duda made the announcement throughout a joint news convention in Warsaw with the visiting Czech president, Petr Pavel.
Duda mentioned Poland’s air power would change the planes it offers to Ukraine with South Korea-made FA-50 fighters and American-made F-35s.
Poland has supplied Ukraine with essential assist throughout the struggle. It is internet hosting hundreds of American troops and has taken in additional Ukrainians than some other nation throughout the refugee exodus sparked by the Russian invasion.
The central European nation skilled Russian invasions and occupations for hundreds of years and nonetheless fears Russia regardless of being a NATO member.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
