US says no to Poland’s fighter jet plan

The Pentagon says it would be a “high-risk” initiative and would not significantly change the effectiveness of the Ukrainian air force, reports the Associated Press.

According to the US assessment, this could escalate the situation and provoke a “major” Russian response, says John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman.

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Polish counterpart and reported on the US assessment.

make a decision

Poland has offered to make the MiG-29s available to the United States, because they are all Soviet-era and Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly them.

The United States had previously expressed doubts about the idea, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Wednesday, called on Western powers to make a decision on the issue.

– We ask you again to decide as soon as possible. They sent us planes, he said in a video on his Telegram channel.

According to Russia, the Polish offer could lead to dangerous situations.

– This is a highly undesirable and potentially dangerous scenario, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The United States has previously expressed concern that Russia will interpret the transfer of combat aircraft as becoming an active party in the fighting.

Harris to Poland

In exchange for the MiG plan, Poland asked the United States to provide the Poles with combat aircraft already in use with a corresponding capacity. Poland has also invited other NATO countries with MiG-29s to deliver them as well.

The missile would be a way for NATO to send fighter jets to Ukraine without the need to train Ukrainian pilots.

US Vice President Kamala Harris had already planned a trip to Poland in recent days, and is now being asked about the plan. On Thursday, she will meet with President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as Ukrainians who have fled to Poland.