‘Send us planes’: Zelensky loses patience with White House as they block Poland offer for jets
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the White House for its refusal to help Poland send jets to the country as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine.
Poland’s government had announced earlier that it was willing to send all of its MiG-29 fighter jets to a US military base in Germany and called on other countries to send their jets.
But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby shot down the effort in a statement on Tuesday.
“The prospect of fighter jets “at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America” departing from a U.S./NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance,” Mr Kirby said.
“It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it. We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one.”
It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it. We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one. (4/4)
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) March 8, 2022
Similarly, undersecretary of state Victoria Nuland said that Poland had not consulted with the United States when it made the announcement, despite Poland also being part of Nato.
Bu Mr Zelensky said that Russia has used missiles, aircrafts and helicopters in its assault on Ukraine.
“We are grateful to Poland for the alternative - for its readiness to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft,” he said. “The problem is in logistics. In fact, it is a technical issue. It must be solved! Immediately.”
Mr Zelensky also criticised the statements that Poland’s proposal is “unfounded”.
“And that's what they say in Washington. We also read this,” he said. “So when will the decision be made? Listen: we have a war! We do not have time for all these signals. This is not ping pong! This is about human lives! We ask once again: solve it faster. Do not shift the responsibility, send us planes.”
Mr Zelensky has previously called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which the United States and Nato has refused to impose.
