A Royal air force Eurofighter Typhoon taxis on the runway during ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., April 10, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese)
The possible supply of British fighter jets to Ukraine would lead to military-political consequences for the whole world, the Russian embassy in London said in a statement on February 8.
“London should remember that under such a scenario, the ‘bloody harvest’ the next round of escalation will reap, as well as the military-political consequences ensuing from this for the European continent and the whole world will rest squarely upon its conscience. Russia will find proper means to respond to any unfriendly steps taken by the British side,” the statement reads.
The embassy pointed out that the “fundraising campaign” carried out by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in London would have been incomplete without “him begging for another batch of weapons which Kiev stopped attributing as ‘defensive’ long ago.”
“Taking into account the fate of NATO artillery systems regularly used by the Kiev military to pound peaceful cities and towns in Donbass, there is little doubt that Western warplanes, if ever shipped, will also be used shortly for air raids on residential neighborhoods in cities of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions that have come under Russian protection,” the statement said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced ahead of his meeting with Zelensky in London on February 8 that the United Kingdom would expand training for Ukrainian servicemen, “from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots.”
The Prime Minister’s office said that Ukrainian pilots will develop skills that will allow them to be able to “fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future.”
Sunak’s spokesperson said later that the British government would investigate what jets the UK might be able to provide, adding “this is a long-term solution, rather than a short-term capability which is what Ukraine needs most now.”.
On February 5, British defense secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC that there will be no immediate transfer of UK fighter jets to Ukraine. The secretary said that supplying fighter jets to use in the conflict would potentially take months.
According to Wallace, the UK is now focusing on using alternative provision of air cover to Ukraine. The secretary did not completely rule out sending fighter jets to Ukraine, but said air support and supporting moving troops could be achieved by using long-range missiles and drones.
The UK was one of few countries that began supplying weapons to Kiev forces prior to the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. Along with the United States, the kingdom has been playing a key role in prolonging the conflict in the country.
Supplying Ukraine with fighter jets will help keep its air forces operational. However, it will not likely challenge Russia’s aerial superiority.
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