After securing battle tanks, mainly German Leopard 2s, Kyiv is requesting fighter jets to carry out coordinated ground and air operations. In an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper, Olaf Scholz said that he was strongly opposed to providing it.
“If as soon as a decision (on tanks) is made a new debate is opened in Germany” about something else, “that is not serious and undermines citizens’ confidence in government decisions,” he said. he adds.
F-16 and Mirage 2000
As soon as this request from Kyiv was announced, the issue of aircraft was discussed in many countries. Lockheed Martin, maker of the F-16 and F-35, is poised to produce more F-16s to supply countries looking to hand over theirs to the Ukrainian military. It is said that the training of pilots has already begun in the United States.
For France, the export of Rafale to Ukraine seems immediately out of the question. However, exchanges have begun between Kyiv and Paris over a possible French delivery of Mirage 2000 fighter jets built by Dassault. France is currently resistant to the idea of acceding to Ukraine’s request.
In the interview given to Tagesspiegel, Olaf Scholz warns against the “risk of escalation” with Moscow.
According to him, it is “necessary” to continue talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: BFM TV
