Poland is ready to place all its MiG-29 fighter jets on the disposal of the US, the international ministry stated on Tuesday, amid a high-stakes debate over the right way to assist Ukraine within the wake of Russia’s invasion of its territory.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has appealed for Nato states to offer his nation with planes to bolster its capabilities, and US officers stated over the weekend that Washington might present Poland with F-16s in change if it did so.
Polish officers have expressed reservations about taking any steps that would drag their nation into the struggle. However the international ministry stated Warsaw was ready to ship its MiG-29 jets to the Ramstein air base in Germany “instantly and freed from cost” and put them on the disposal of the US authorities.
“On the identical time, Poland requests the USA to offer us with used plane with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is able to instantly set up the situations of buy of the planes,” the international ministry stated in an announcement.
“The Polish authorities additionally requests different Nato allies — homeowners of MiG-29 jets — to behave in the identical vein.”
Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, on Sunday stated that the US was wanting “very actively” at supplying navy plane to Poland ought to Warsaw select to ship its personal to Ukraine.
His remarks got here after intense stress from Zelensky, who stated that if Nato wouldn’t institute a no-fly zone over Ukraine then it ought to present its air power with fighter jets.
To facilitate this, Zelensky requested the US to present Poland and different japanese European allies F-16 fighter jets, enabling these nations to then ship the Russia-made warplanes to Ukraine. Ukrainian pilots want plane made in Russia as a result of these are the programs they’ve been educated to fly.
