According to the Pentagon, Wednesday’s announcement by the Pentagon stated that the Biden administration had ruled out the transfer fighter aircraft from Ukraine as it could lead to tensions with Russia.
Poland offered to donate Soviet-era MiG 29 aircraft from the Soviet Union to Ukraine through a U.S. military base in Germany. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak that the U.S. had rejected the offer, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby stated to reporters.
Austin spoke to the Polish defense minister by phone. He “emphasized that we don’t support the transfer additional fighter aircraft to Ukraine at the moment, and therefore do not want to see them in any of our custody,” Kirby stated.
Kirby stated that the U.S. intelligence agency had concluded that sending fighter jets to Ukraine was a risky move that could lead to tensions with Russia.
He stated that the aircraft would not provide any significant benefit to Ukraine’s military situation.
Kirby stated that “we believe the provision of additional fighter planes provides little increased capability at high risk.”
He said that the United States must always consider how any move could impact tensions with Russia.
Kirby stated, “We must be careful about every decision that we make.”
Kirby said, “We also believe there are other options that are better suited for supporting the Ukrainian military in fighting against Russia,” but did not give examples.
Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, was asked why there have been so many confusing statements from the U.S. as well as Poland recently at a briefing. Psaki stated that there was a temporary breakdown in communication.
Psaki said that there were “logistical” concerns about how such a transfer could take place given the fact that Ukraine is under attack.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministry of Poland stated that they were ready to send their MiG-29 aircraft to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The United States would then be able to use them. It also urged NATO members with similar planes to follow its lead.
Officials from the United States claimed that they were completely taken by surprise and had not been given any advance notice.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, called Saturday on NATO allies and the United States to supply his country fighter planes to fight invading Russian troops. U.S. lawmakers supported his appeal and urged White House to act.