Warsaw says it’s ready handy over the planes, however solely in coordination with NATO
Poland will switch F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, however solely as a part of a coordinated effort with different NATO companions, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki introduced at a press convention on Monday.
Morawiecki stated Warsaw coordinates all actions pertaining to strengthening Kiev’s defensive capabilities with its NATO companions, primarily with the US, noting the latest choices to ship Patriot air protection programs and M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev.
“And simply because it occurred just a few months in the past with MiG-29 plane, another plane help shall be coordinated, applied and, probably, transferred along with different NATO member states. We’ll act in full coordination right here,” Morawiecki stated.
The PM’s assertion comes after Polish media reported final week that Warsaw had allegedly transferred a variety of its MiG-29s to Ukraine in March 2022, disguising them as spare elements – whereas the US and allies refused to supply Kiev with navy plane, deeming the transfer “too escalatory.”
Since Russia launched its navy operation in Ukraine in late February final 12 months, Washington has been one of many important suppliers of navy assist to Kiev, spending tens of billions of {dollars} on deadly help. Nonetheless, the US has been hesitant to supply superior weaponry akin to fashionable warplanes, fearing they could possibly be used to strike Russian territory and finally result in a direct confrontation between Moscow and NATO.
On Saturday, nonetheless, it was revealed that a variety of US navy officers have been “quietly pushing” the Division of Protection to greenlight the supply of F-16s to Kiev. As reported by Politico, a number of sources inside the Pentagon declare these efforts at the moment are “gaining momentum” after Washington agreed to ship tanks and Patriot programs.
Russia has repeatedly warned the West towards supplying Ukraine with weapons, arguing that it will solely delay the battle. Final week, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that the arms deliveries function additional proof that Western nations are instantly concerned within the stand-off between Moscow and Kiev.
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