Ukraine gets fighter aircraft, spare parts amid war with Russia

Kyiv:

Ukraine has received fighter jets and spare parts to strengthen its air force amid Russian aggression. The announcement in this regard was made by the Pentagon on Tuesday. 

“Ukrainian forces now have more fixed-wing fighters available to them than they did two weeks ago,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

However, Kirby did not specify the number of aircraft provided to Ukraine. “Without adding to what other nations are providing, Ukrainian forces have received additional platforms and parts to be able to increase the size of their fleet,” a Kirby spokesman said.

Kirby continued, “Other nations that have experience with these types of aircraft are able to help them run more aircraft.” To avoid the risk of Russia being considered a co-combatant, Kirby clarified that the United States has not provided Ukraine with any aircraft.

“We have certainly facilitated the trans-shipment of some additional spare parts to help with their aircraft needs, but we have not delivered the entire aircraft,” news agency Reuters quoted a Pentagon spokesperson as saying.

Notably, Ukraine has been pleading for fighter jets for weeks. Kyiv has asked Western countries to provide MiG-29 fighter jets (because its pilots already know how to fly these planes).

Kirby said that previously, the possibility of transferring these planes to Ukraine via Poland had been discussed, but the US had not agreed to it. As Russia may have seen it as direct participation of the North Atlantic Alliance Organization (NATO).

Meanwhile, fighting continues between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the strategic port of Mariupol. Earlier on Tuesday, Russia also asked the Ukrainian army to lay down its arms in Mariupol. According to a report by the UN refugee agency, more than 4.9 million Ukrainian citizens have fled their country after the Russian invasion. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

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