UK, Germany reluctant to send fighter jets to Ukraine

BERLIN

German and British defense chiefs promised continued military support to Ukraine, but ruled out sending fighter jets, citing lack of required capacity and other problems.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his German counterpart in Berlin, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace said his country is not planning to send Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

“First of all, Britain isn't going to donate any fighter jets to Ukraine at this time,” he said, stressing that the UK’s Typhoon fighter jets would not be suitable for Ukraine, and would require sending hundreds of support personnel to the war zone.

“What we can, obviously contribute, is training and support, again, within limits, because we don’t have F-16 pilots, ” Wallace said, adding that the UK and Germany will continue their cooperation on the matter, and will support other allies who wish to send combat aircraft to Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said his country does not have the fighter jets that could meets the requirements of Ukraine, and lacks capacity for training Ukrainian pilots.

He underlined that it will be the decision of the US whether or not to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

"In the end, as far as I know, this depends on the White House,” he told reporters.

Pistorius said Berlin will continue to focus on delivering tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems to Ukraine.

Germany and the UK are among Ukraine’s biggest arms suppliers and shipped billions worth of weapons and equipment since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out last year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for additional military assistance during his recent visits to Berlin, London and Paris, and particularly asked for sophisticated fighter jets from the allies.