Sky News has been told by the president of Poland that Ukraine will require fighter jets to counter Russian threats.
Andrzej DUDA, in an exclusive interview given during his visit to the UK warned that Vladimir Putin was trying to defeat Ukraine.
NATO must agree to send modern warplanes into Ukraine, as President Duda previously stated.
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In this interview, he was more open-minded. After a meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zilenskyy the Polish president stated that he believes Ukraine should send modern fighter jets to stop any future aggression by Russian .
They will also require modern planes and fighter jets in future. He said that everything that will give them a technological advantage over the Russian armed force is important right now.
Poland is a strong ally in pushing for Ukraine to receive more arms, but its president has not yet acknowledged that Ukraine should have modern fighter jets.
He said that it would take some time for this to happen, not least because Ukrainian pilots need training and logistical difficulties must be overcome.
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MIG29s could be used first
He said that older Soviet-era Polish MIG-29s from the Soviet Union could be sent sooner.
He said that these planes are the type of aircraft Ukrainian pilots can fly on a daily basis, because they are equipped with this kind of equipment.
“Donating that equipment to Ukraine will provide support for Ukraine, as they will be counterbalanced to a degree by the Russians.”
Sky News military analyst Air Vice Marshall Sean Bell stated that MIGs will be much more beneficial in the short-term for the Ukrainian air force.
He said, “Learning to fly and then operating modern western fighters such as the F-16 requires years of intensive training.”
“The Ukrainian air force is familiar with the MIG-29, not only because they fly it but also because they support and maintain it.
“Providing additional MIG29s and possibly some training – in simulators and in air – to the Ukrainians would be an immediate and welcomed capability enhancement.”
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Mr Duda met Rishi Sunak, British Prime Minister, for the first time in the UK. He will also meet his French counterparts at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Next week, Joe Biden will be hosting him at events in Poland to commemorate the one-year anniversary.
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“West must remain true to the cause”
For his supporters, he has a clear message. You will be punished if you don’t support Ukraine.
Mr Duda stated that Vladimir Putin was looking to exhaust the West. He hopes they will give up on Ukraine and stop supporting Ukraine. He believes in this.
“If this happens, we will soon have another war because I am convinced that Russia will attack another country. “I have no doubt about it.”
One year ago, the Polish president was visiting Ukraine to meet his Ukrainian counterpart. Intelligence reports confirmed their worst fears about an invasion.
In a race against the Russian tanks, his motorcade raced back to Poland and returned to the country.
He stated that he still believes the war is not over a year later and that it will continue for 12 more months.
He says that if the West doesn’t continue to support Ukraine, the conflict will only get worse and could spread to other countries.
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