Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hold a press conference at a military camp in Dorset County, Britain, February 8, 2023. POOL / REUTERS
The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom on Wednesday promised a “response” if London decided to send fighter jets to Ukraine.
The British government said Thursday, February 9 “aware of escalation risksrelated to potential deliveries of fighter jets to the Ukrainian army, emphasizing to act “cautiouslyand blaming any escalation on Russia.
On the occasion of a surprise visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, London announced the forthcoming training of Ukrainian fighter pilots in the use of NATO-compliant aircraft, and promised to study the possibility of future deliverieslong-termof planes claimed by kyiv.
Aircraft deliveries not excluded
“We make these decisions carefully and after careful consideration. We are aware of the potential escalation risks“Assured Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson to the press, when asked about the reluctance of certain Western allies of kyiv. “Everything we do takes into account the potential risks of escalation but once again I would like to stress that it is Russia, and not Ukraine or NATO, (…) which is causing an escalation of the situation“, he added.
Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that “nothing is excludedconcerning military aid to kyiv and that the deliveries of planes, demanded by Volodymyr Zelensky before the British Parliament, were “of course part of the discussions“. London estimates that the training of pilots will take three years, the Ukrainian soldiers being familiar with Soviet-designed aircraft and not NATO standards.
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The Russian Embassy in the UK on Wednesday promised a “answerif London decided to send fighter planes to Ukraine:I would like to remind those responsible in London: in such a scenario, the bloody harvest of the next round of escalation will be on your conscience, together with the military and political consequences for the European continent and the whole world.“.
After deciding in January to send heavy tanks to the Ukrainian army, kyiv’s western allies are reluctant to take a new step by providing it with planes, Joe Biden in particular having ruled out this option as it stands.
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