“The urgent need now is to deliver what we promised…” stressed Jens Stoltenberg
NATO ‘freezes’ Ukrainian request for fighter jets, despite rumored major Russian spring offensive.
The decision to provide Western fighter jets to Ukraine “not the most urgent issue now” the Secretary General of NATO clarified on Tuesday Jens Stoltenberg in view of the meeting of the ministers of the alliance. “But it’s an ongoing conversation,” he added.
“The urgent need now is to deliver what we have promised… We need the training, we need the equipment, we need the ammunition, and that is exactly what the Allies are providing now and will be a leading issue in the meetings today here at NATO.”Stoltenberg told reporters.
Earlier, several Western officials also told the Financial Times that Ukraine’s immediate needs for munitions and air defenses outweighed longer-term requests, such as for fighter jets, as Russia reportedly launched its new offensive.
According to FT sources, Ukraine’s allies will commit to supply additional ammunition and air defense equipment in the country at the 9th Ramstein Summit, which takes place on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers’ Summit in Brussels. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on February 9 that “many” European leaders expressed their readiness to provide Ukraine with fighter jets and other necessary weapons, without elaborating.
However, only Poland has publicly indicated a readiness to send fighter jets to Ukraine – but has clarified that the delivery needs NATO approval. The West appears reluctant to move aircraft to Ukraine amid fears of escalating tensions with Russia – especially soon after it was given the green light to supply Kiev with modern tanks.
Source :Skai
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