International

US Working With Poland On Providing Fighter Jets To Ukraine

Published

3 years ago

Mar 6, 2022.

Ukrainian President Zelensky asked US lawmakers Saturday for help in establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine
At least 1.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, according to UN estimates

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the US government is working with Poland on the possibility of Warsaw providing fighter jets to Ukraine along with consulting with other allies.

This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s push for eastern European countries to send fighter aircraft into the country.

As part of the conversations with Poland, the US is determining what “capabilities we could provide to backfill Poland if it decided to transfer planes to Ukraine,” said the spokesperson, who would not detail what backfill options are under consideration.

The spokesperson said sending fighter jets into Ukraine is a “sovereign decision for any country to make” and noted there are a host of logistics to work through, including how the aircraft would be transferred from Poland to Ukraine.

Two lawmakers participating in a Zoom call with the Ukrainian President on Saturday said Zelensky indicated Poland had signaled it is prepared to send MiG fighter jets but “they are only waiting for you [the US] to allow it.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have put plans to evacuate civilians from Mariupol on hold, citing Russian violations of an agreed pause in fire. Russia’s Defense Ministry said “offensive operations” have resumed in the area.

Ukraine and Russia will hold a third round of talks Monday, according to negotiators.

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