THE Defence Secretary has played down calls for fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine – as the Kremlin chillingly warned of the “military consequences”.
Ben Wallace insisted there were quicker and more efficient ways to help the war-torn nation right now.
The Defence Secretary said there were other ways to help give Ukraine the ‘same effects’ as fighter jets
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks
He told HOAR we need to keep Vladimir Putin at bay by keeping the UK and NATO allies properly defended at home.
The Cabinet minister said training their fighters to use our jets – which might not take place until the war is over – was as complex as a Formula One team.
The PM and Defence Secretary have refused to rule out sending them – but any arrivals would be months or even years away.
It came after war hero Volodymr Zelenskyy flew to Britain to give a passionate plea for us to send them our fighter planes to help their war effort.
And Russia warned the “military-political consequences” of arming them “will be on the United Kingdom’s hands”.
The Kremlin added in a thinly-veiled warning: “Russia will know how to respond to any unfriendly actions by the British side.”
Any action would lead to “an escalation of tension” and make the war even longer “and more painful for Ukraine”, they warned.
Russia also swiped at the Ukrainian President himself, calling him “pompous” and “hypocritical”.
The ask from Ukraine comes ahead of an expected major offensive from Russia in the coming weeks to mark the anniversary of their barbaric invasion.
Mr Wallace played down the suggestion we may send them anytime soon.
And former PM Boris Johnson’s rally cry calls for us to send all our equipment to Ukraine before it’s too late just wasn’t realistic.
Even if we did green light the sophisticated jets, there would be “another ask” tomorrow of another bit of kit from Ukraine as they push to show Russia they have the backing of the West.
The PM has refused to rule anything out when it comes to helping Zelenskyy’s fighters to push back against Putin – and yesterday tasked the Defence Secretary to look at the options.
Mr Wallace said the UK has been in discussions about whether to send British fighter jets to Ukraine for “some time”.
But he will “bring together the evidence and the facts” for the PM to look at.
However, the UK typhoon jets are in a four-nation treaty with Spain, Italy and Germany – and any decision on gifting them away would have to be taken together.
The Defence Secretary said: “In the here and now, the best few months, the best way we can help Ukraine is ask them, what effects they need, and can we get it to them in other ways, rather than a Formula One team with a pit crew that might take months or years to do.”
The technical equipment would require a “whole load of people to service it” and would take a long time to train them, he explained.
Ben Wallace has played down the idea of sending fighter jets to Ukraine
Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to the UK earlier this week
Mr Wallace said: “These things are not going to be there next week, or next month, or maybe even in six months.
“You’re going from gifting a bicycle, if you think of the NLAWs to a Formula One team, with a crew.
“Without a crew, you can’t start the car, and it certainly can’t do more than eight laps.”
He added: “If tomorrow morning we all gave all our fighter jets, there would be another ask.
“If I gave away all my typhoons as Boris Johnson said, who’s going to look after Romania? Who is going to take on Isis in Syria?
“One of the reasons Putin has not lashed out into NATO is because he respects and is very mindful, that NATO outguns him – that would not be a good move by him.
“I’m also balancing my own vulnerabilities – I’ve got to protect NATO, and protect our people.
“The first step is, let’s train people, train the pilots.”
A number of other countries have been donating aircraft including Sea King helicopters, and fixed wing fighters and parts.
The PM’s spokesman said the Prime Minister was “aware of potential escalatory risks”, noting that all decisions on Ukraine aid were taken “carefully” and “thoughtfully”.
