Today the NATO summit meets again in Brussels. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said he expects the issue of fighter jets to be discussed as well. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking for it for a long time, but Western countries have so far held back. What do you think? Should NATO deliver fighter jets to Ukraine? Tonight we will collect the most fascinating reactions in a new piece. Read below what NATO member states and experts think about it.
On his tour of various European capitals last week, the Ukrainian president repeated the explicit demand for more military support from the West. According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs modern fighter jets, among other things.
Europe must scale up its military support to Ukraine more quickly before Russia launches a new, large-scale offensive, Zelensky said. “We need to improve the dynamics of our cooperation, faster than the aggressor tries to use its potential. This is not just about aggression against Ukraine, but against the whole of Europe.”
France: “Not excluded”
Following Zelensky’s visit to Paris last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said he “doesn’t rule out anything” regarding a possible delivery of French fighter jets. “But at the moment that is not the need,” he said. Macron says his country wants to supply “more useful” and “faster” weapons to Kiev.
Britain: “Part of talks”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also excludes nothing when it comes to arms deliveries to Ukraine, including fighter jets. “We have been clear on this for a long time: nothing is excluded in terms of providing military assistance to Ukraine, and aircraft deliveries are of course part of our talks,” Sunak said during Zelensky’s visit to London last week. Earlier it became clear that the British army is investigating which fighter planes can be sent to Ukraine in the long term. Meanwhile, Ukrainian pilots are already being trained.
WATCH: Zelensky’s visit to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Germany: “A red line”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared late last month to “definitely not send any jets or troops to Ukraine” – a red line, Scholz said. “I can only advise against participating in a constant bidding war for weapon systems,” the German said at the time. He also warned of the risk of an escalation with Moscow. “There is no war between NATO and Russia. We will not allow such an escalation.”
United States: “Talk about additional aid”
US President Joe Biden is also not eager to send fighter jets to Ukraine, on the contrary. The president previously said “no” when asked by journalists whether the United States will send F-16s. Later, Biden would have said that he will “talk” to Zelensky about his requests for additional military aid.
Belgium: “Necessary”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said before the start of the European summit that our country cannot supply fighter jets to Kiev. “We really need them,” he said.
Poland: “Consultations with NATO”
Poland considered sending its fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29s back in March last year. The Ukrainian pilots are also familiar with these aircraft. Yet the deal was called off after the US became concerned about a possible escalation in the early phase of the war. According to reports in Poland, Warsaw has delivered spare parts instead.
Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, recently suggested that Poland is ready to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. Yermak says Ukraine has received “positive signals” from Warsaw in a Telegram message. However, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is more cautious and stressed that Poland only acts in consultation with NATO allies.
Professor of European politics Hendrik Vos (UGent): “There is a lot of pressure”
Professor Hendrik Vos thinks that the fighter jets will be treated in the same way as the delivery of the tanks. “That was also unthinkable a few months ago, now they are being prepared for delivery,” he explains. “When you hear that the British are training Ukrainian pilots, you feel it is tipping. The pressure is on to agree to the delivery of jets. These will then have to come from the countries that have the most equipment available and are most sympathetic to Ukraine, such as Poland and the Baltic States. You feel that it is moving in that direction politically.”
Professor of International Politics Sven Biscop (UGent and Egmont Institute):
“The transfer of combat aircraft increases the risk of an escalation of the war, because they can be used to directly attack Russian territory,” fears Professor Sven Biscop. “And the main red lines for Russia are: no non-Ukrainian troops on Ukrainian territory and no direct military attacks on Russian territory.”
“So a possible decision could only be made collectively and should be accompanied by strict limits on what we will allow Ukraine. No deployment over actual Russian territory, for example. By the way, F-16s may never be passed on without American permission.”
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