Poland pledges fighter jets to Ukraine
Thursday, Poland pledged to send four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO member to do so. This is a significant step in Kyiv’s fight against the Russian invasion.
President Andrzej Duda stated that the planes inherited from the former German Democratic Republic would be transferred in the coming days following maintenance.
Duda stated, “When it comes to the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still operating in the defense of Polish airspace, a decision has been made at the highest levels, and we can confidently say that we will be sending MiGs to Ukraine.”
Warsaw has taken the lead among NATO allies in providing heavy weapons to Kyiv. The announcement that Poland will send planes designed by the Soviet Union represents a departure from the rest of the alliance’s obligations and could put pressure on other members to do the same. Other NATO nations have been hesitant to move beyond a decision made earlier this year to send tanks to Kyiv, and the United States insisted Thursday that Poland’s action would not force Washington’s hand.
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At a joint news conference in Warsaw with his new Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, the Polish president reaffirmed the two nations’ support for Kyiv.
President Duda stated that the Czech Republic and Poland are at the forefront of humanitarian and military support for Ukraine.
Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland was one of the most vocal European nations opposing Russia. Many in Poland’s political and diplomatic circles still view Russia in terms of the Cold War. Warsaw has always viewed Putin as untrustworthy, and Russia’s expansion is something that must be resisted at all costs. It is one of the few NATO countries required by law to spend 2% of its GDP on defense and is an active member of the European defense community.
Poland’s decision to send MiGs is not unexpected and is completely consistent with its NATO membership. It could alter the alliance’s dynamic, prompting more nations to join, or irritate nations, such as Hungary, that oppose NATO’s involvement in the conflict.
The most important question is whether or not it will exert pressure on the United Kingdom and the United States, which will then exert pressure on Germany. Creating this pressure on other allies was likely Poland’s intention in the end.
Thursday, the White House stated that Poland’s decision to send fighter jets is a “sovereign decision” that will not motivate President Joe Biden to send F-16 aircraft.
John Kirby, a senior member of the US National Security Council, stated, “It does not alter our calculus about F-16s.”
“These are sovereign decisions for any country to make, and we respect those sovereign decisions,” he said, adding, “They get to decide not only what they’re going to give, but also how they’re going to characterize it.”
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“I do not believe it is our place to characterize Poland’s decision,” Kirby stated, declining to support the decision.
He stated that Biden, who stated earlier this year that he would not ship US fighter jets to Ukraine, would not be influenced by Poland’s decision.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his country would deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks in January, acquiescing to intensifying international pressure led by the United States, Poland, and a bloc of other European nations, who demanded that Berlin increase its military support and commit to delivering their desired vehicles.
President Joe Biden announced that the United States would provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks, reversing the administration’s longstanding opposition to Kyiv’s requests for the highly sophisticated but maintenance-intensive vehicles.
In addition to requesting tanks from the United States, Ukraine has argued that it needs fighter jets to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
However, this proposal has been met with skepticism by U.S. and allied officials, who argue that the jets would be impractical due to the extensive anti-aircraft systems Russia possesses, which could easily shoot them down.
US and European officials have previously told CNN that the use of F-16 fighter jets in this situation is impractical. Germany completely ruled out the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine, and British government officials echoed this sentiment by stating that sending jets into Ukraine was impractical.
Alleged spy ring
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Polish authorities announced that nine members of a suspected spy ring had been arrested on suspicion of “collaborating” with the Russian secret service agency FSB.
Minister of the Interior Mariusz Kaminski stated that those detained were “foreigners from east of the border.”
“At the request of Russian intelligence, the suspects conducted intelligence operations against Poland and planned acts of sabotage,” the minister said.
Six individuals have been charged with espionage and membership in an organized criminal group, Kamiski disclosed.
The court decided to detain the six individuals pending trial, he said, adding that criminal proceedings are pending against the three individuals detained on Wednesday.
“Evidence indicates that the organization monitored railroad routes. Its duties included identifying, monitoring, and documenting shipments of weapons to Ukraine, as stated by the minister.
“The suspects were also believed to be planning sabotage operations aimed at impeding the delivery of equipment, weapons, and aid to Ukraine,” continued Kaminski.
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