Ukraine’s close ally Poland warns sending fighter jets to Kyiv is ‘not an easy decision’ after Rishi Sunak dodged on Zelensky’s appeal
Ukraine’s close ally Poland has warned that sending fighter jets to Ukraine is ‘not an easy decision’ – after Rishi Sunak dodged over Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal.
Polish president Andrzej Duda warned there were ‘serious problems’ with donating aircraft for deployment by Kyiv to resist the Russian invasion.
In a BBC interview, Mr Duda said Poland did not have enough F16s to spare and pointed out they need maintenance and technical support crews on the ground.
The comments came after President Zelensky visited London, Paris and Brussels urging allies to supply jets.
As Vladimir Putin masses forces for what is expected to be a Spring offensive, Mr Zelensky asked for ‘wings for freedom’, warning that without more air power there was a serious risk the conflict will ‘stagnate’.
Polish president Andrzej Duda warned there were ‘serious problems’ with donating aircraft for deployment by Kyiv to resist the Russian invasion
Mr Sunak announced during Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit last week (pictured) that Ukrainian pilots will start being trained on the UK’s Typhoons and F-35s
In a BBC interview, Mr Duda said Poland did not have enough F16s (file picture) to spare and pointed out they need maintenance and technical support crews on the ground
Mr Sunak announced during Mr Zelensky’s visit that Ukrainian pilots will start being trained on the UK’s Typhoons and F-35s.
The PM insisted ‘nothing is off the table’ on whether aircraft would be offered.
Boris Johnson was among those calling for Britain to hand over jets and more tanks to help thwart Russian aggression.
However, Mr Sunak played down the prospect that jets could be used any time soon, arguing that it would take years for pilots and ground crews to be ready to operate them.
Experts have also questioned whether the UK’s aircraft would be the best option for Ukraine, suggesting the Swedish Grippen or the F16 is more realistic.
Speaking through an interpreter on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Duda said that Nato allies will need to take a ‘joint decision’ on supplying jets. Although Ukraine is receiving strong support from the military alliance it is not a full member.
He stressed it was ‘not only about the jets’, as ‘you also need maintenance and technical background, technical servicing’.
‘So it is not enough just to send a few jets, and a problem that we are facing – at least in Poland is as follows: We have such jets but they are fewer than 50. So as a matter of fact, this is the only stock of jets that we have.
‘This poses a serious problem if we donate even a small part of them anywhere. Because I don’t hesitate to say we have not enough of these jets. We would need many more of them.’
He added: ‘A decision today to donate any kind of jets, any F16s, to donate them outside Poland is a very serious decision. And it is not an easy one for us to take.’
During his visit last week, Mr Zelensky presented Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle with a pilot’s helmet asking for ‘wings for freedom’
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