Monitoring Desk
BERLINL: German chancellor Olaf Scholz has ruled out sending fighter jets to Kyiv, following committing to supplying battle tanks to Ukraine.
The German Chancellor warned against a bidding war for arms. Ukraine had asked allied countries to create a “fighter jet coalition” to enhance their capabilities.
Ukraine and Fighter Jets
Washington said it would discuss the matter of supplying fighter jets “very carefully” with Ukraine on Thursday.
In an interview with a newspaper, Scholz said his focus was on the supply of German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks. On Wednesday Berlin committed to supplying 14 of its battle tanks to Kyiv, following weeks of pressure from its allies.
After Germany’s commitment to supply the battle tanks, the US said it would send Ukraine with its Abrams tanks.
Read Also: European Commission Chief Shows Support for Ukraine Ahead of Summit
Ukraine’s deputy minister for foreign affairs, Andrii Melnyk, has asked for the formation of a “fighter jet coalition” that would supply Ukraine with F-16s and F-35s, Tornados, Eurofighters, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Podolyak told the media they needed missiles “to drastically decrease the Russian army’s key arms”.
Similarly, Ukraine’s president Zelensky said that his country needed the US-made ATACMS missile. He further said that the missiles would assist Ukraine anticipate Russian attacks on urban areas of the country and civilians.
However, the US has so far refused to supply those arms.
The German Chancellor reiterated that Nato was not at war with Moscow and said that they will not allow such an escalation.
