UK

No 10 admits ‘escalatory’ risk in sending fighter jets to Ukraine after Russia threats

Rishi Sunak’s government has admitted there is a potential risk of escalation as it considers sending fighter jets to Ukraine, Downing Street has said.

The prime minister said warplanes were now “part of the conversation” as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had heard from several European leaders that they were ready to provide Kyiv with aircraft.

Mr Zelensky gave no further details about the pledges – that came at a EU summit in Brussels – but appeared optimistic about the prospect of jets being delivered, having spent the last couple of days on a mini European tour to bolster support. The Ukrainian leader asked for “powerful English planes” during a visit to the UK.

“Europe will be with us until our victory. I’ve heard it from a number of European leaders… about the readiness to give us the necessary weapons and support, including the aircraft,” Mr Zelensky told a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

Having been asked about some allies’ concerns that supplying jets could risk dragging Nato into the conflict, Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: “We take these decisions carefully and we do it thoughtfully. We are aware of potential escalatory risks.” As for warnings from the Kremlin that sending jets would elicit a military response, the No 10 official stressed that “it continues to be Russia that is escalating”.

A senior Ukrainian official said that Kyiv were aware acquiring air assets was going to take time, but the Nato governments were aware of the urgency and that Kyiv was “not disappointed” about how things stand.

“We have learned to have strategic patience. Everything happens stage by stage.” she said. “We have had to present our case every step of the way in getting the weapons after Putin invaded our country, we know how this works. We have got experienced pilots who have ben in many air battles, know how to shoot down drones, and they will not have to start from the beginning.

“The Nato military who work with us know this, it is a question of convincing the politicians. We have pilot training and then we’ll have the aircraft to fly them,”she said. “ We know other help, surface-to-air, artillery and electronic warfare kit will come while we wait for the aircraft decision. We are not disappointed.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that any delivery of advanced Nato-standard fighter jets would only bring pain and suffering to Ukrainians and criticised countries in the alliance for taking a more “direct” role in the conflict.

“This is nothing more than the growing involvement of the United Kingdom, Germany and France in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” Mr Peskov said. “The line between indirect and direct involvement is gradually disappearing.” he added.

Forcing home the point about the threat from Russia, Mr Zelensky told European leaders that his country has intercepted plans by Russian secret services to destroy Moldova and that he had spoken to Moldovan President Maia Sandu about the alleged scheme.

“I have informed her that we have intercepted the plan of the destruction of Moldova by the Russian intelligence,” Mr Zelensky said. He added the documents showed “who, when and how” the plan would “break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over Moldova” but he did not know whether Moscow ultimately ordered the plan to be carried out.

After Mr Zelensky’s comments, Moldova’s Intelligence and Security Service released a statement confirming it has received “respective information from our Ukrainian partners” and said it has also identified “subversive activities, aimed to undermine the Republic of Moldova, destabilize and violate public order.”

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told the BBC on Thursday that Nato allies had to make “abolsutely sure” they were not risking “direct confrontation” with Moscow by giving planes to Ukraine.

It comes as defence secretary Ben Wallace said Britain will not be giving fighter jets to Ukraine in the short-term – making clear any potential transfer would take months.

Mr Wallace, in Rome for talks, said there was no immediate prospect of British jets being offered to Kyiv. “This is not a simple case of towing an aircraft to the border,” Mr Wallace told the BBC.

He added: “Britain knows what Ukraine needs and is very happy to help in many ways trying to achieve the effect. Those same effects can be done, but potentially through a different way – and without taking months, which of course gifting fighter jets would take.”

Mr Wallace also dismissed Boris Johnson’s call for the UK to provide 100 Typhoon warplanes as “unrealistic” – pointing out that Typhoons are made several different countries and agreement of allies would be needed.

He also appeared to suggest that Ukraine’s air force pilots would only finish their UK training on using fighter jets “post-conflict”.

Zelensky with EU leaders on Thursday

Xural.com

Related Articles

Bir cavab yazın

Sizin e-poçt ünvanınız dərc edilməyəcəkdir. Gərəkli sahələr * ilə işarələnmişdir

Back to top button