According to a top official from NATO, Ukraine will not be receiving Western fighter jets for its current counter-offensive against Russia. Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATO’s military committee, stated in an interview on Monday that the training required for pilots and logistical problems make it impossible to supply advanced warplanes to Kiev in the short term. He emphasized that the discussion about fighter jets for Ukraine should be postponed until after the ongoing offensive operation.
Admiral Bauer acknowledged that Ukraine is in an existential fight but believes that the country has an advantage over Moscow due to its Western weapons and training. However, he cautioned against mixing the discussion about the counter-offensive with Ukraine’s requests for fighter jets, as he believes it is not feasible at the moment.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been urging Western powers to provide warplanes, but only a few countries have agreed to do so. Poland and Slovakia have authorized the transfer of Soviet-era MiG fighters, but demands for F-16s from the United States have been denied. The US cited availability issues and fears of escalating hostilities with Russia as reasons for refusing the request. However, the US has already started training Ukrainian pilots on American planes and has supplied other weapons such as the Patriot missile defense system and the M1 Abrams main battle tank.
Germany and the UK have also rejected calls for fighter jets, but Britain has authorized the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, which are the longest-range munitions provided so far. The UK has expressed its willingness to partner with a coalition of states to supply fighter jets, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has highlighted the challenges of training and logistics in such an endeavor.
Despite the lack of fighter jets, Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in early June. However, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the majority of the attacks have been repelled with significant losses for Ukraine. President Zelensky has acknowledged that the operations are moving slower than desired due to tough resistance from Russian forces. Ukrainian military officials have stated that large numbers of reserve troops have yet to be deployed.
Last month, a senior aide to President Zelensky criticized Ukraine’s Western patrons for their slow weapons deliveries, claiming that it allowed Russia to establish formidable defenses.
In conclusion, the supply of advanced warplanes to Ukraine is not feasible in the short term due to the required training for pilots and logistical challenges. While some countries have provided support in the form of Soviet-era fighters and other weapons, the demand for fighter jets has been largely denied. The ongoing counter-offensive by Ukraine has faced strong resistance from Russian forces, but the deployment of reserve troops is still pending. The issue of fighter jets for Ukraine will be discussed further once the current offensive operation is completed.
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