Pentagon refuses to transfer Polish fighters to Ukraine
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that Washington does not consider Warsaw’s proposal acceptable to transfer military aircraft to Kyiv via the United States.
As Kirby said in a statement issued by the White House Press Caucus, the “potential to send combat aircraft” in US government possession from a US/NATO base in Germany “to Ukraine” is a matter of grave concern to “the entire coalition.”
“We are continuing consultations with Poland and our other NATO allies on this issue, but we do not consider Poland’s proposal reasonable,” a Pentagon spokesperson said. He also stressed that “the decision to transfer Polish-owned aircraft to Ukraine is ultimately up to the Polish government.”
The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized NATO for refusing to close the skies over Ukraine. Last Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that there should be no NATO military aircraft in the skies of Ukraine, and no soldiers from the alliance on its territory. He also added that NATO does not seek to go to war with Russia and is responsible for ensuring that the conflict does not spread beyond Ukraine’s borders, because such a development of events would be more destructive and dangerous.
Last week, the press service of the Ukrainian Navy announced that Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia will send 70 military aircraft to Ukraine, which can be stationed at Polish airports. According to her, Sofia will transport 16 MiG-29 fighters and 14 Su-25 attack aircraft to Kyiv, Warsaw – 28 MiG-29s, and Bratislava – 12 MiG-29s.
MiG-29 combat aircraft have been in service with the Polish Army since 1989 and are located at Tactical Air Base 22 in Malbork and Base 23 in Minsk-Mazowiecki.
