Is war in the air right now?

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Britain continues to support Ukraine: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (43) and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (56) announced an “international fighter jet coalition”.

In concrete terms, the coalition is about training Ukrainian soldiers and purchasing F-16 jets, according to a Downing Street spokesman. However, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (53) is currently excluding the delivery of fighter jets, he announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Volodymyr Zelensky (45), the president of Ukraine, is very pleased. He is confident that he can convince the US and other Western countries to supply aircraft. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (42) is also optimistic: “A large fighter jet coalition from several countries is coming this year,” he said on Twitter.

Ukraine wants these fighter jets

The first steps in this direction have already been taken: Poland and Slovakia announced the delivery of Mig-29 fighter jets as early as April. However, Ukraine also wants the French Mirage-2000 or the American F/A-18 Falcon, which is used by the Finnish army, among others. But these countries have not yet shown a willingness to supply these jets or join a coalition to do so. The British Eurofighter is also on Ukraine’s list – but Wallace claims this is “inappropriate”.

That could perhaps change with the Anglo-Dutch announcement. Dominik Knill (64), president of the Swiss Officers’ Society, suspects that European heads of state are now under pressure. “The West is accused of only supporting Ukraine enough not to lose the war, but not enough to win it.”

Fighter jets crucial for counter-offensive

For a long time, air forces played only a minor role in the war in Ukraine – on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides. Therefore, neither the aggressor nor the defender currently control the airspace over Ukraine. A special feature, as Knill says. With good reason: “The Ukrainian Air Force is vastly inferior to the Russian Air Force in terms of quantity and quality.” And Russia wants to keep its losses in the air force as small as possible.

So why is Ukraine so desperate for fighter jets now? “Fighter aircraft can decisively influence and accelerate the outcome of an offensive,” explains Knill. Because with fighter jets, the Ukrainian military could attack far behind the current defense lines and thus achieve success.

And the West hopes that an early end to the armed conflict will improve prospects for a negotiated peace.

Will the US Prevent the Jet Fighter Coalition?

However, there is a catch: for the US, Ukraine’s main partner, deliveries of fighter jets are still taboo. The coalition announced by the UK and the Netherlands could also cause the US to fail with its position. Since the F-16 jets are American-made, both countries would have to convince the US and ask for permission.

Knill explains a possible reason for the reluctance to Blick: “Using Western fighter jets could cross red lines for Russia. A dangerous escalation should be feared if it attacks Russian-controlled territory.”

When asked if the U.S. had changed its stance on supplying the jets to Ukraine, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, 60, replied Monday with one word: “No.”

Source: Blick