During a Zoom call with members of Congress on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his requests for a no-fly zone, more harsh sanctions and additional lethal military aid. Specifically, he asked for Russian-made MiG29 fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots know how to operate these planes, he said.
As far as NATO leaders, including President Joe Biden, are concerned, a no-fly zone is off the table because it would immediately draw us into war with Russia, the largest nuclear power in the world.
In the past few days, it’s been widely reported that Poland, which is a member of NATO, is planning to send MiG29s to the Ukrainians and to allow the country to use its airports. These reports picked up steam on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would consider that Russia is at war with any country that renders such assistance to Ukraine.
Despite Putin’s “red line,” in a Sunday appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his support for Poland’s plan to send the jets.
Host Margaret Brennan asked, “If, for instance, the Polish government, a NATO member, wants to send fighter jets, does that get a green light from the U.S.? Or are you afraid that that will escalate tensions?”
Blinken replied, “No, that gets a green light. In fact, we’re talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to backfill their needs if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to to the Ukrainians.”
Later in the program, Brennan asked Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova when her country expected to receive the jets.
Markarova replied, “We are hoping as soon as possible.”
Yet, a statement from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland calls these reports “fake news.”
Responding to a Twitter post about the story, the prime minister’s office wrote: “Unfortunately you are spreading misinformation with quotation from 27/02/22. Poland won’t send its fighter jets to #Ukraine as well as allow to use its airports. We significantly help in many other areas.”
‼️FAKE NEWS‼️
Unfortunately you are spreading misinformation with quotation from 27/02/22.Poland won't send its fighter jets to #Ukraine as well as allow to use its airports. We significantly help in many other areas.https://t.co/wjNOgh97JT
— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) March 6, 2022
The Wall Street Journal reported that last Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda told reporters, “We are not sending any jets to Ukraine because that would open a military interference in the Ukrainian conflict. We are not joining this conflict. NATO is not a party to this conflict. We are supporting Ukraine with humanitarian aid, however we are not sending any jets to the Ukrainian airspace.”
According to the Journal:
It wasn’t clear if he meant flying Polish-flagged fighter jets, with Polish pilots, into Ukraine, or donating planes that Ukrainians would then own and fly. But that same day, Mr. Morawiecki [the prime minister] said Poland had no plans to give Ukraine its jets.
…
However, two Polish officials close to the issue said Poland would at least consider the proposal Washington was willing to put together.
It’s been excruciating to watch the images of the carnage and the devastation coming in from Ukraine. But sending in fighter jets from a NATO country would be dancing extremely close to the flame. While it falls short of setting up a no-fly zone, Putin has been extremely clear this is a red line for him. And he wouldn’t be shy about retaliating.
Blinken’s support of such a move, going so far as to arrange the replacement of Poland’s donated MiGs with American planes, makes me wonder if this administration actually wants to go to war with Russia.
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