“It will be more and more difficult to convince to help to the detriment of oneself”: how Kyiv is seeking the supply of missiles and fighters from the West

Kyiv is negotiating in an "accelerated" mode with Western countries on the supply of aviation and long-range missiles to Ukraine.

This was stated by adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Mikhail Podolyak.

“First, negotiations are already underway.

Secondly, the negotiations are proceeding at an accelerated pace.

Third, partners understand all this.

I think that in a short time we will reach the following tools, that is, long-range aviation and missiles, ”TASS quoted Podolyak as saying on the air of the telethon. 

At the same time, he added that the Ukrainian authorities, instead of expressing some kind of dissatisfaction, should “clearly tell” partners on a daily basis about the need to provide these types of weapons.

Open discussion

Recall that information about the discussion of potential deliveries of long-range missiles and aircraft to Kyiv appeared in the Western media immediately after Washington decided to send American Abrams tanks to Ukraine, and Berlin announced its decision to transfer its Leopard 2 to Ukraine and give the go-ahead for their re-export by other countries.

On January 24, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that "certain European colleagues" had allegedly already "taken to work" the issue of providing Kyiv with American F-16 fighters.

• F-16 fighters

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• © Wikimedia Commons

Soon, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that, in addition to tanks, Ukraine should receive modern NATO combat aircraft and long-range missiles.

“We must unblock the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important for us to expand our cooperation in artillery, we must achieve the supply of aircraft to Ukraine,” RIA Novosti quotes him.

According to Western media, discussions have already begun in the political and diplomatic circles of NATO about sending combat aircraft to Kyiv.

This, in particular, was reported by the publication Politico.

“The next natural step (in support of Ukraine. - 

) will be (deliveries. - 

) of fighters,” Politico quotes a diplomat from one of the northern European countries.

As for the United States, then, according to the publication, Washington allegedly told Kyiv that the supply of aircraft "is currently impossible."

According to the diplomat, who spoke with the journalists of the publication, "the matter is in the red line."

At the same time, Politico admits that Western countries have previously drawn their own red lines for themselves in the matter of supplying various weapons to Kyiv, which were then passed.

In turn, the coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, said during a briefing on January 27 that Kyiv had already requested F-16 fighter jets from the United States, but no decisions had been made on this issue.

“We are in constant discussion and have discussions with the Ukrainians almost every day regarding their needs for weapons, and these are regular conversations.

However, I have nothing to announce regarding additional weapons, not to mention fighters, ”TASS quoted Kirby as saying.

At the same time, not everyone in Europe believes that the supply of combat aircraft to the Kyiv regime is the right step.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke out categorically against the transfer of fighter jets and long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Instead of handing more and more weapons to Kyiv, he said, the West should seek a ceasefire.

Orban focused on the fact that, contrary to the statements of European politicians about their desire to avoid escalation, they are doing everything to make the situation worsen.

“It all started with Germany's statements about its readiness to send (to Ukraine. -

) helmets: they did not want to send lethal means, because this would mean participation.

That's where it all started.

Now it has come to battle tanks and there is already talk about aircraft, ”said the Hungarian prime minister.

In his opinion, the situation with the supply of weapons to Ukraine is already almost out of control.

Transferring actions

Experts note that the demand of the Kyiv regime to provide combat aircraft and long-range missiles becomes the next logical link in the Western supply chain, since previous arrays of weapons have so far prevented Kyiv from inflicting on Russia the very “military defeat” that is the goal of the collective West.

• F-16 fighters

“All lower grade weapons have already been given to them.

The logic of Kyiv is quite simple: “You gave us weapons.

Good, but, as you can see, it does not work - we need even better weapons.

So they will agree to a nuclear one.

You should not be surprised if similar absurd scenarios begin to be voiced in the near future, ”military expert Ivan Konovalov said in an interview with RT.

However, the chances that Western military aviation will indeed be provided to Kyiv are not so high yet, Ivan Konovalov believes.

The cost of a modern fighter is disproportionately higher than the cost of an artillery gun or tank, he stressed.

“The countries that own these aircraft value them very much.

For example, Sweden is being asked to supply Saab Gripen fighter jets, an extremely expensive aircraft.

A logical question arises: who will pay for them?

The Ukrainians obviously want to get everything for free, and one plane costs more than several tanks.

The Americans will twist the arms of Europe, but the situation with tanks has clearly shown that this process can take a very long time, ”said the source of RT.

For comparison, the average cost of one Gripen fighter manufactured by the Swedish Saab is $85 million, while the cost of one Leopard 2A6 tank is just over $5 million. With such high costs and attempts to take away expensive and modern weapons from Europe, it will be increasingly difficult for Washington to put pressure on the EU, he believes Ivan Konovalov.

“Earlier, Europeans basically got rid of old equipment and weapons.

For example, Poland sent its Twardy tanks, which are licensed copies of the T-72.

But all this has already been destroyed by Russian forces.

Now it will be more and more difficult for the Americans to convince Europe that it is obliged to help Ukraine.

Especially to the detriment of oneself, ”the military analyst emphasized.

The Kyiv regime wants to transfer hostilities to the territory of the Russian Federation - this is what motivates its requests for the supply of missiles and aircraft, Yuri Knutov explained in an interview with RT.

“Based on Podolyak’s statement, it becomes clear that Ukraine plans to strike at Russian territory — the southern and central regions of the Russian Federation.

This should be taken seriously.

And if such a decision is discussed at NATO meetings, Russia should react harshly.

And not only diplomatically,” the expert summed up.