War in Ukraine: Poles and Americans at odds over delivery of fighter jets
Two Polish MIG-29 fighter jets (top and bottom) with two Polish F-16 fighter jets (middle), August 27, 2011. AP - Alik Keplicz
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky multiplies calls to guarantee the safety of the skies of Ukraine, invaded by Russia.
NATO refuses to establish a no-fly zone in Ukraine, for fear of starting an " all-out
war
", while Warsaw has said it is ready to hand over its Soviet-made MIG-29 fighter jets to the United States , for a possible transfer to the Ukrainians.
A proposal rejected shortly after by Washington.
Advertising
Read more
For the United States, the Polish proposal is not tenable because it would raise serious concerns for the whole of NATO.
Washington says it is ready to continue its consultations with Poland after expressing its “
surprise
” at the Polish decision, reports our correspondent
Sarah Bakaloglou
from Warsaw.
In a statement – quite brief – published Tuesday evening, March 8, Poland indicated that it was ready to make all its MIG-29 fighter planes available to the United States.
It also encouraged the other
NATO
countries to do the same.
In exchange, Poland asked Washington to provide it with other planes to replace its MIG-29s: F16s, according to American media.
► To read also: The war in Ukraine makes the Poles fear a Russian attack
But for the United States, the decision to
deliver these Polish planes to Ukraine
rests with the Polish government.
This weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting the country, said the United States was actively working on a deal with Poland to send its planes – directly – to Poland. Ukraine in exchange for American planes.
Except that Warsaw, which put the responsibility in the hands of Washington with its announcement on Tuesday, wants the decision to be collective so as not to get directly involved in the conflict.
Prime Minister
Mateusz Morawiecki
recalled: “
Poland is not a party to this war, which is why any decision to deliver offensive weapons must be taken by NATO as a whole.
We are not ready to do anything alone.
»
In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday March 9 urged Westerners to decide on the MIG-29 issue without delay.
“
Make a decision as soon as possible, send us planes!
“, he claimed, calling for “
immediate treatment
” of the Warsaw proposal.
For its part, the Kremlin said it was worried about a “
potentially dangerous scenario
”.
►
Find our follow-up of live events day by day
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Poland
Russia
Ukraine
United States
NATO