<p>The defence ministers of the UK and Germany said on Wednesday (May 17) that any decision to send fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the White House. This stand has been despite a jet "coalition" announced by Britain and the Netherlands this week.</p>

<p>"This is up to the White House to decide whether it wants to release that technology," British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said after talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin.</p>

<p>"It depends on the White House... to decide whether the F16 fighter planes can be delivered," said Pistorius.</p>

<p>On the first day of a Council of Europe summit in Iceland this week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte had agreed on the fighter jet club.</p>

<p>They said they would build an "international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F16 jets".</p>

<h2><strong>UK does not have F16s</strong></h2>

<p>British Defence Minister Wallace pointed out that the UK did not have F16 jets and also underlined that there were no plans to send aircraft from its Typhoon fleet.</p>

<p>"But we can help the pipeline... we can enable other people who wish to," he said.</p>

<p>Pistorius said that Germany cannot "play an active role" in such an alliance "because we don't have the training capacity, the skills, or the aircraft".</p>

<p>Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor also said in Iceland that he did not see any direct 'requirements' for Germany over fighter jets.</p>

<h2><strong>Zelensky again presses for fighter jets</strong></h2>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing for fighter jets to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion and repeated the request on a recent tour of the European capitals.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Ukraine: Russian Kinzhal missiles cannot destroy patriot system&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky said in London that he was "very positive" about creating a "jets coalition" in the war against Russia.</p>

<p>Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year. After initial territorial gains, Russian troops were forced to retreat from large swathes of Ukrainian land in the face of counterattack from Ukraine. Russia then opted to attack targets in Ukraine using missiles. The missile attacks have and continue to batter Ukraine. The energy grid of the country has been extensively damaged due to the missile attacks.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-eases-citizenship-process-for-foreigners-fighting-for-russia-in-ukraine-593240">Putin eases citizenship process for foreigners fighting for Russia in Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Along with efforts of its military, the Ukrainian pushback against the Russian war machine has largely been attributed to Western help. Western countries, the European Union and the UK have poured in huge humanitarian and military help. Millions and millions of dollars have been provided to Ukraine. The military help includes ammunitions, missile launchers, tanks, rocket systems and more.</p>

<p>Zelensky has been pushing for fighther jets for air superiority on the battlefield. But this is something Western countries have been dragging their foot about.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The defence ministers of the UK and Germany said on Wednesday (May 17) that any decision to send fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the White House. This stand has been despite a jet "coalition" announced by Britain and the Netherlands this week.

The defence ministers of the UK and Germany said on Wednesday (May 17) that any decision to send fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the White House. This stand has been despite a jet "coalition" announced by Britain and the Netherlands this week. "This is up to the White House to decide whether it wants to release that technology," British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said after talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin. "It depends on the White House... to decide whether the F16 fighter planes can be delivered," said Pistorius. On the first day of a Council of Europe summit in Iceland this week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte had agreed on the fighter jet club. They said they would build an "international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F16 jets". UK does not have F16s British Defence Minister Wallace pointed out that the UK did not have F16 jets and also underlined that there were no plans to send aircraft from its Typhoon fleet. "But we can help the pipeline... we can enable other people who wish to," he said. Pistorius said that Germany cannot "play an active role" in such an alliance "because we don't have the training capacity, the skills, or the aircraft". Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor also said in Iceland that he did not see any direct 'requirements' for Germany over fighter jets. Zelensky again presses for fighter jets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing for fighter jets to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion and repeated the request on a recent tour of the European capitals. Watch | Ukraine: Russian Kinzhal missiles cannot destroy patriot system × Zelensky said in London that he was "very positive" about creating a "jets coalition" in the war against Russia. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year. After initial territorial gains, Russian troops were forced to retreat from large swathes of Ukrainian land in the face of counterattack from Ukraine. Russia then opted to attack targets in Ukraine using missiles. The missile attacks have and continue to batter Ukraine. The energy grid of the country has been extensively damaged due to the missile attacks. Also Read | Putin eases citizenship process for foreigners fighting for Russia in Ukraine Along with efforts of its military, the Ukrainian pushback against the Russian war machine has largely been attributed to Western help. Western countries, the European Union and the UK have poured in huge humanitarian and military help. Millions and millions of dollars have been provided to Ukraine. The military help includes ammunitions, missile launchers, tanks, rocket systems and more. Zelensky has been pushing for fighther jets for air superiority on the battlefield. But this is something Western countries have been dragging their foot about. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Delivering F16 fighter jets to Ukraine ‘up to the White House’: UK defence minister

<p>Germany&nbsp;has approved&nbsp;Poland's request to&nbsp;export&nbsp;five&nbsp;old&nbsp;MiG-29&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to bolster&nbsp; Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Poland's defence ministry did not immediately comment.</p>

<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the request had arrived Thursday, and that Berlin's same-day approval showed that&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;could be relied upon.</p>

<p>Germany&nbsp;inherited 24 MiG-29&nbsp;jets&nbsp;from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;in the world.</p>

<p>In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to&nbsp;Poland. Of the remaining two&nbsp;jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show at a museum.</p>

<p>Poland&nbsp;needs Berlin's consent to send its remaining&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to a third country.</p>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Warsaw last week that&nbsp; Poland&nbsp;would help form a coalition of Western powers to supply warplanes to Kyiv.</p>

<p>Ukraine, which hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months, wants to secure&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to defend against air strikes.</p>

<p>Western countries have so far been reluctant to send advanced&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;such as F-16's to Kyiv, but some countries have stepped in to send&nbsp;old&nbsp;MiG-29&nbsp;jets&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;already uses.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Germany has approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday.

Germany has approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday. Poland's defence ministry did not immediately comment. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the request had arrived Thursday, and that Berlin's same-day approval showed that Germany could be relied upon. Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show at a museum. Poland needs Berlin's consent to send its remaining jets to a third country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Warsaw last week that Poland would help form a coalition of Western powers to supply warplanes to Kyiv. Ukraine, which hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months, wants to secure fighter jets to defend against air strikes. Western countries have so far been reluctant to send advanced fighter jets such as F-16's to Kyiv, but some countries have stepped in to send old MiG-29 jets that Ukraine already uses. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Germany allows Poland to export old MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine

<p>US President Joe Biden said Monday the United States would not provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv demands more weaponry and air support to be better able to fight the Russian forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden simply replied with a "no" when a reporter asked him at the White House&nbsp;if the US would be sending F16s or other planes to Ukraine. This comes a day after Germany also ruled out sending fighter jets.</p>

<p>Notably, US, Germany and more countries last week agreed to send heavy battle tanks to Kyiv. While Berlin is sending Leopard 2 tanks, US will be providing its most advanced tanks, M1 Abrams, to Kyiv.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tank-delivery-promises-by-the-west-perceived-as-direct-involvement-kremlin-556204">Russia criticises West for giving tanks to Ukraine</a></p>

<p>Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrii Melnyk, welcomed the decision on tanks, but asked western allies to create a "fighter jet coalition" that would provide them with Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets.</p>

<p>Ukraine says that the jets will help it gain back control of its airspace. Several European countries are open to the idea of providing the jets to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he would not rule out giving fighter aircraft, but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict.</p>

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<p>Analysts say that both Ukraine and Russia might be preparing for significant offensive movements in the coming months. Western aircraft will boost Kyiv's strength tremendously, especially considering that its own air force has significantly depleted by 11 months of war.</p>

<p>German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has termed the matter of sending more military aid as "frivolous" since they had just committed to sending the heavy tanks</p>

<p>Scholz also clarified to the German newspaper Tagesspiegel that the NATO military alliance was not at war with Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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US President Joe Biden said Monday the United States would not provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv demands more weaponry and air support to be better able to fight the Russian forces.

US President Joe Biden said Monday the United States would not provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv demands more weaponry and air support to be better able to fight the Russian forces. Biden simply replied with a "no" when a reporter asked him at the White House if the US would be sending F16s or other planes to Ukraine. This comes a day after Germany also ruled out sending fighter jets. Notably, US, Germany and more countries last week agreed to send heavy battle tanks to Kyiv. While Berlin is sending Leopard 2 tanks, US will be providing its most advanced tanks, M1 Abrams, to Kyiv. Also Read | Russia criticises West for giving tanks to Ukraine Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrii Melnyk, welcomed the decision on tanks, but asked western allies to create a "fighter jet coalition" that would provide them with Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets. Ukraine says that the jets will help it gain back control of its airspace. Several European countries are open to the idea of providing the jets to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he would not rule out giving fighter aircraft, but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict. × Analysts say that both Ukraine and Russia might be preparing for significant offensive movements in the coming months. Western aircraft will boost Kyiv's strength tremendously, especially considering that its own air force has significantly depleted by 11 months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has termed the matter of sending more military aid as "frivolous" since they had just committed to sending the heavy tanks Scholz also clarified to the German newspaper Tagesspiegel that the NATO military alliance was not at war with Russia. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Biden says US won't be sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine