A week after the Pentagon
mistakenly said they transferred jets to Ukraine, the official Twitter account
of Ukraine's Air Force said, "Ukraine did not receive new aircraft from
partners! With the assistance of the US Government, received spare parts and
components for the restoration and repair of the fleet of aircraft in the Armed
Forces, which will allow us to put into service more equipment. Source: @alex_owski
@KpsZSU
You have to wonder whether the White House and the Pentagon
are hanging their heads in shame and embarrassment lately.
Yes, President
Joe Biden has asked Congress to pass a $33 billion Ukrainian Aid measure
including more than $20
billion in military aid and other security assistance. Yes, the big aid package includes a strong
dose of needed humanitarian help. But no, the White House still fears that
giving jet fighters to the Ukraine fighters will provoke escalation by Vladimir
Putin. Ukrainian
President Volodomyr Zelensky has
repeatedly asked for fixed wing aircraft to support his ground troops, but
America is afraid such a gift might make Vladimir Putin feel bad,
Meanwhile, The Ukrainians have been rebuilding jets. They've scrimped and conjured enough parts
and old aircraft that they've now got 20 more jets than they had when the war
started. They've fought one of the
largest armies in the world to a virtual standstill while they build extra
fighters out of leftovers in between ducking from the Russians continued
shelling. We should be embarrassed.
The US has committed to sending Ukraine 16 Mi-17
helicopters, but the administration declined to get involved in transferring
MiG-29s from Poland to Ukraine. President Zelensky has repeatedly asked other countries
for Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets partly because Ukrainian pilots
already know how to fly them. Russian
missiles and artillery, as well as the strikes on military bases are ongoing
and the Ukraine's Air Force has suffered some losses but it remains mostly
intact.
The
Ukrainian Air Force continues to defy expectations. Although they fly a limited
number of sorties, they continue to fight effectively, mount enough of a
presence to keep the Russians apparently afraid of the skies, and they are
adding to their inventory.
(0) COMMENTSWelcome to the discussion.
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