Ukraine’s request for Western fighter jets has gained support from Baltic nations and Poland, but larger countries such as the U.S. and Britain have refused to provide the warplanes to Kyiv. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu emphasized the situation’s urgency, stating that Ukraine needs fighter jets, missiles, and tanks. The Baltic and Polish nations, which lie on NATO’s eastern side, feel particularly threatened by Russia and have advocated for military aid.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently held talks with his French counterpart and discussed aviation “platforms” to help Ukraine’s ground-to-air defense. Still, they did not discuss specific fighter jets. Reznikov remains optimistic about the response from Western allies to Kyiv’s requests for fighter jets and believes it will be as soon as possible. He also mentioned that Ukraine has sought weapons in the past year, starting with Stingers, and although the first response was always “Impossible,” it eventually became “possible.”
France is set to send 12 Caesar cannons to Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Speaking alongside Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Lecornu confirmed that “there are no taboos” on sending fighter jets. Still, French President Emmanuel Macron added that multiple conditions must be met before any such action takes place.
Last week, Western nations pledged to send sophisticated modern tanks to Ukraine, but concerns have been raised that sending warplanes could escalate the conflict and draw them deeper into the war. The U.K. government considered sending its fighter jets as “not practical,” and U.S. President Joe Biden responded “No” when asked about the possibility of sending F-16 fighter jets.
Kyiv officials have repeatedly urged allies to send jets, saying they are essential to challenge Russia’s air superiority and ensure the success of future counteroffensives. The need for fighter jets has become more pressing as the conflict in Ukraine enters its second year.
The West has decided to provide Ukraine with tanks after months of negotiations, despite the hesitation of some NATO members, including the United States and Germany. The decision comes amid tensions between the West and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested that the discussions over military aid might be politically motivated. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that there are no taboos in helping Ukraine, but sending fighter jets would be a big step.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, repeated the Kremlin’s view that NATO is involved in a hybrid war against Russia. He stated that the Russian military would take necessary measures to prevent fulfilling Western plans, and Lavrov added that Russia is open to any serious proposal to resolve the conflict.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the Baltic nations and Poland for advocating for fighter jets and long-range missiles for Ukraine, calling it an aggressive approach. NATO member Croatia’s President Zoran Milanovic also criticized the arms deliveries, stating they would only prolong the war.
Earlier in the conflict, there were discussions about providing Ukraine with Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets, but the proposal was rejected due to the high risk of escalation. The switch to Western aircraft would require long training for Ukrainian crews and raise logistical challenges.
The Russian air force has avoided deep incursions into Ukrainian airspace, focusing instead on close support. In contrast, the Ukrainian air force faces challenges in protecting its remaining warplanes from Russian attacks.
