LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has stated that if Poland chooses to assist Ukraine with jets, he will support them.
Mr Wallace told Sky News that he would welcome a move by a NATO ally to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets, but that it would have to be their decision.
It comes as reports surface that the Poland and US are contemplating a deal, with the US asking Poland to furnish the Soviet-era planes that will be replaced with US jets.
The Polish president initially rejected the agreement.
“Poland will see that the decisions it makes will not only directly assist Ukraine, which is a good thing, but they will also put them in the line of fire from countries like Russia and Belarus,” the defence secretary told Sky News.
They’ll have to adjust it. That is a huge duty on the shoulders of Poland’s president, as well as the country’s defence minister. As a result, it wasn’t up to him to second-guess their decision. But it is for him as a NATO member to state that he would support Poland, he added.
- A top Russian general is said to have been killed in action near Kharkiv, according to Ukraine.
- From 7 a.m., Russia proposes humanitarian corridors in numerous cities.
- Russia, according to Zelenskyy, has violated previous humanitarian corridors.
- Later today, Ukraine’s president will deliver a ‘historic address’ to British MPs.
- Russia has threatened to slash gas exports to the West via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
- Ukraine and Russia held talks in Belarus.
- New legislation aimed at Russian oligarchs has passed the House of Commons.
- According to the UK, 300 visas have been issued to Ukrainian refugees uptill now.
- Mr Wallace said he will give MPs an update on the UK’s backing for Ukrainian military on Wednesday.
He told Sky News that the UK was in a “good position” to ensure that Ukraine had “better and greater defence.”
It has been made very clear by the Labour that the UK would stand shoulder to shoulder with NATO members, according to Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds.
The Ministry of Defence will assist the Home Office in accelerating visa processing.
The Ministry of Defence will also assist the Home Office in verifying the identities of fleeing Ukrainian refugees in order to speed up the visa process, said the defence secretary.
