UK Says ‘Not Practical’ to Supply British Fighter Jets to Ukraine

An RAF Typhoon fighter jet in an undated file photo. SAC Charlotte Hopkins/MoD/PA

The UK government has said it is “not practical” to send British fighter jets to Ukraine, though it insists the UK will “accelerate” its support to bolster Kyiv’s fight against Russia.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said on Tuesday: “The UK’s Typhoon and F35 fighter jets are extremely sophisticated and take months to learn how to fly, given that we believe it is not practical to send those jets into Ukraine.

“We will continue to provide and accelerate our military support to Ukraine and listen carefully to their requests.

“It is the length of time it takes to learn how to use what are very complex pieces of equipment that is the limiting factor in this case but we will explore what more we can do to support Ukraine.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, in London, on Jan. 25, 2023. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Ukraine inherited a significant fleet of Soviet-made warplanes, including Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets and Su-25 ground attack aircraft. Switching to Western aircraft would require Ukrainian crews to undergo long training and raises logistical challenges over maintenance and repair.

Giving an account of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, the spokesman said the prime minister “had reviewed the UK’s approach and concluded that a prolonged stalemate in the conflict would only benefit Russia.”

“Which was why he had decided there was an opportunity to accelerate UK support working closely with our allies to give Ukraine the best chance of success and make the most of the window of opportunity where Russian forces were on the back foot.

“He said the new strategy would also see greater diplomatic efforts and planning work with the Ukrainians on how to rebuild once the conflict had ended.”

Western Reluctance

Having succeeded in persuading the UK, the United States, and Germany to supply modern main battle tanks to its armed forces, Ukraine is now pushing for Western countries to supply it with fighter jets.

But some Western leaders have expressed concern that providing warplanes could escalate the conflict and draw them in deeper.

A Leopard 2 tank is pictured during a demonstration event held for the media by the German Bundeswehr in Munster near Hannover, Germany, on Sept. 28, 2011. Michael Sohn, File/AP Photo

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he will not send F-16 warplanes to Kyiv.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared to balk at providing fighter jets, suggesting Sunday the reason for the discussion might be “domestic political motives” in some countries.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday there are “no taboos” in efforts to help Ukraine but added that jets “would be a very big next step.”

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said in principle “nothing is excluded,” but any delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine would need to not escalate the situation, not be likely to hit Russian soil, and not weaken the French armed forces.

But Ukraine has won support from Baltic nations and Poland in its quest to obtain Western fighter jets.

“Ukraine needs fighter jets … missiles, tanks. We need to act,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said on Tuesday in the Latvian capital of Riga at a news conference with his Baltic and Polish colleagues. Those countries, which lie on NATO’s eastern flank, feel especially threatened by Russia and have been the leading advocates for providing military aid.

Asked about the Baltic states’ call for fighter jets and long-range missiles for Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the comments “reflected an aggressive approach taken by the Baltic nations and Poland, who are ready to do everything to provoke further escalation without thinking about consequences.”

Boris Johnson Intervenes

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in Washington for talks with senior politicians to bolster support for Ukraine, said on Tuesday that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should be given all the equipment he needs.

Asked about the F-16 situation, he told Fox News: “All I will say is that every time we have said it will be a mistake to give such and such an item of weaponry, we end up doing it and it ends up being the right thing for Ukraine.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves a meeting at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 31, 2023. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

“I remember being told it was the wrong idea to give them the anti-tank shoulder-launched missiles. Actually, they were indispensable and the United States—under [former President] Donald Trump—gave them the Javelins as well. They were indispensable in the battles to repel the Russian tanks.

“People said that we shouldn’t give the Himars [rocket launchers]. I remember having arguments about the multiple-launch rocket systems, the MLRS. Actually, they have proved invaluable to the Ukrainians. We said the same about tanks.

“All I’m saying is save time, save money, save lives. Give the Ukrainians what they need as fast as possible.”

Johnson rejected the idea Russian President Vladimir Putin could be prepared to turn the war into a nuclear conflict.

“He probably doesn’t even stop the Ukrainians if he did that—and we would put his economy into such a cryogenic paralysis that Russia wouldn’t come out of it for decades—so he’s not going to do that,” Johnson said.

PA Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.