The British government on Thursday assumed it was “aware of the risk of escalation” if it supplies fighter jets to the Ukrainian army.
“We have made these decisions with care and after careful consideration. We are aware of the potential risks of escalation”British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said when asked by journalists about the unwillingness of some of Kyiv’s Western allies.
During a surprise visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, London announced Wednesday that Ukrainian pilots will soon be trained to fly military fighter jets used by NATO countries, promising to look at “long-term” supply of the fighter jets Kiev needs has. .
“In everything we do, we take into account the potential risks of escalation, but I want to emphasize again that it is Russia, not Ukraine or NATO (…) that is escalating the situation”added the spokesman today.
After deciding in January to send heavy tanks to the Ukrainian army, Kiev’s Western allies are hesitant to go one step further by supplying aircraft, with US President Joe Biden ruling out this option at this stage.
Sunak said that “nothing is out of the question” regarding military aid to Kiev and that the supply of aircraft, requested by Volodymyr Zelensky during a speech to the British parliament, was “naturally part of the discussions”.
London estimates that pilot training will take three years, as the Ukrainian military is more familiar with Soviet aircraft than with NATO standards.
The Russian embassy in the United Kingdom warned in London on Thursday that the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine could lead to an “escalation” with “military and political consequences for the European continent and the whole world”.
“Russia will find an answer to any hostile measure,” he added.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than eight million to European countries – according to the most recent data from the UN. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At the moment, at least 17.7 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and to impose on Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 7,155 civilian deaths and 11,662 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
