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Britain is considering whether to send fighter jets to Ukraine in a move to pressure other Western countries to step up military support for Kyiv.
During a visit to Britain on Wednesday, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky called for “wings for freedom” and claimed the plane donation would help Ukraine defeat Russia and restore its legal borders.
Rishi Sunak has asked Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to investigate whether the RAF can save Typhoon fighters in the coming months. The Ukrainian pilots will soon be in the UK for training on NATO-standard jets, but it is unclear at this time when they will be fully operational.
At a press conference in Dorset on Wednesday night, the prime minister said the possibility of sending fighter jets was “part of the conversation”, adding that he was “not considering anything”.
“The day turned out to be very fruitful,” Zelensky said. suggested it could be trained in a matter of months, rather than the three to five years previously claimed by the British government.
Government insiders admit they may not be able to send jets in time to make a difference in the current war, I We understand that one of the motivations is to strengthen Ukraine’s military strength in the long term so that Russia and other potential aggressors never try to occupy Ukrainian territory again.
Mr Sunak also hopes that by becoming the first major Western power to send fighter jets to Ukraine, Britain will encourage other allies such as the United States and Germany to follow suit.
“The impact of numbers is an important aspect of this,” said a source close to the prime minister. Another insider added:
However, some in the government are skeptical of this idea. As one Cabinet Secretary said: I: “We don’t have a f***ing jet to give!”
Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said Wednesday that it was “very unlikely” that British jets would be deployed in conflict.
He told LBC: I need support, engineers and spare parts. They need all of that, and it can take up to five years of high-speed jet pilot training to use the sophisticated high-speed jets we’re talking about. So there are formidable obstacles. ”
Joe Biden has so far denied sending US F-16 fighter jets, but some of his supporters are calling for a change of heart. . Generals are starting to talk more about it, and there’s a growing argument that if we can provide tanks with many of our allies, we can provide jets. ”
The Russian embassy in the UK lashed out at Mr Sunak’s announcement, saying the jet’s delivery would have “military and political implications for the entire continent of Europe”.
How many jets can Britain send to Ukraine?
That is unclear and depends on consultations with the Ukrainian military and other allies.The RAF has more than 130 Typhoon fighters, of which about 30 are currently scheduled to be retired in 2025. .
when will this happen?
Not for at least a few months. One of the main problems is the need to train Ukrainian pilots to fly British jets. This can take months or even years. Also, Britain is unlikely to act without the support of other major allies such as the United States and Germany.If Ukraine receives Western jets, ground support to ensure that the Air Force can use them properly. Other infrastructure is also required, such as
What difference would jets make to Ukraine’s war effort?
Kyiv’s military is roughly comparable to the Russian military on the ground, with an increased ability to deploy deadly missiles. But Moscow is still winning air battles, preventing Ukraine from driving its forces away from the current front lines. A squadron of fighters can throw you off balance.
How much would this cost to the UK?
It’s hard to put an exact price tag on it, but it’s almost certainly in the hundreds of millions of pounds.