Sending F-16 jets to Kiev currently not on agenda: Warsaw

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Feb 2023 17:07

This comes at a time when several countries are debating the supply of fighter jets to Kiev in light of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's requests for the West to boost military support.

In this photo provided by Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet participating in NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission operate in Lithuanian airspace, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 (Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense via AP)

Polish sources reported on Wednesday that Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Marcin Ociepa said that supplying Kiev with F-16 fighter jets is currently not on the agenda, citing logistic issues.

"As of today, this topic [shipping of F-16 to Ukraine] is not on the agenda, if we talk about operational activities and primarily about political decisions," Ociepa told the Polish reporters.

"[Training pilots for F-16 jets would take] many months. If we shorten training, then I think it may take six months. But it will be in a very urgent mode. Normally, it will take more time," he added.

This comes at a time when several countries are debating the supply of fighter jets to Kiev in light of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's requests for the West to boost military support.

Earlier today, Reuters reported that the US is readying an upcoming assistance package to Kiev worth over $2 billion, which is expected to include this time longer-range rockets and other military equipment.

These longer-range missiles will be delivered to Ukraine for the first time, after several months of rebuffing Kiev's demands to provide it with munitions that can strike deeper into Russian territory.

Yesterday, US President Joe Biden told reporters that the US will not be sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which Ukraine's leaders have said are at the top of their latest weapons wish list.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said a day earlier that Poland can hand over its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine only in coordination with other NATO partners.

Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he would not rule out France delivering fighter jets to Ukraine, but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was considering providing Kiev with military support and that he was open to mediating between Russia and Ukraine if requested to do so by its allies and the US.

As for the UK, it was likewise reported today that former British Prime Minister urged current Rishi Sunak to "forget Putin" and supply Kiev with fighter jets. Yet, as of now, the move is considered unpractical by Sunak and his administration.

On January 29, Politico reported that a group of US military officials is quietly lobbying for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

According to the newspaper, the campaign for F-16s to Ukraine is gaining momentum in the Pentagon, while Kiev is bracing for a planned offensive this spring.

A senior Pentagon official told Politico he did not think the US Department of Defense (DoD) was opposed to the idea, noting that there was no final decision on the possible supplies yet. Meanwhile, Ukraine should clearly indicate that F-16 fighter jets are "its top priority," the source said.

One advisor to the Ukrainian government said the subject has been raised with the US but noted that there has been "nothing too serious" on the table yet.

Another source familiar with the conversations between Washington and Kiev indicated that it may take weeks for the US to make a decision on such deliveries, pointing out that the fighter jets would have to be sourced from the country's own reserves or reexported from other countries.