Western allies could eventually send fighter jets to Ukraine as they plot how to “accelerate” the end of the war, an official signalled tonight
The US is reportedly poised to send Patriot missile systems to bolster Ukraine ’s air defences as Russian forces pound the country.
Other allied nations could step-up their supply of gear to help Ukrainian troops repel invaders, a Western official indicated.
“It’s all kept under review and it’s all part of this ongoing conversation with the Ukrainians,” they said.
“I haven’t heard fighters mentioned for a while but if the trajectory keeps going in the way it is I think there will be a conversation about that.
“But I wouldn’t pre-judge what decisions might be made. A lot of it does depend on the nature of the Russian attacks and where the Ukrainians most want to put their effort.”
In the early stages of the war triggered by Russia ’s February 24 invasion of its neighbour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on allies to send fighter planes to help his forces defend their homeland.
NATO nations rebuffed the pleas for fear of escalating the conflict - and further enraging Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin.
However, Ukraine’s stiff resistance - backed by Western military equipment - could reignite calls for warplanes to be handed to Kyiv.
Discussing military gear which could be shipped to Ukraine, the official stressed the situation was “very reactive”.
“Whether or not one would look at equipment that would enable the Ukrainians to pre-empt some of what the Russians might do - all these things are under consideration, but no decision has been reached,” they said.
“I think the envelope is anything short of attacks on Russian soil, other than those that are directly engaged in the fighting in Ukraine.”
The official said there was a “growing recognition that things may go on as they are for a very long time - there’s a question therefore in people’s minds about, ‘Is there something that can be done, without going outside the envelope, to accelerate the Ukrainians getting to a better position?’ However one defines that”.
Highlighting the suffering of Ukrainian civilians as war rages, the official said there was “an interesting question as to, ‘What is the trajectory of the conflict and are there things that can be done to get the Ukrainians into a better position faster rather than continue as we are at the moment, where things will take a very long time and get drawn out and more and more of the Ukrainian people will be without water, heating and power?’”.
But the official revealed that nobody in diplomatic circles believed Crimea - the Ukrainian territory which has been ruled by Russia since it was annexed in 2014 - could return to Ukrainian rule.
Revealing no American leaders believed Ukrainians could drive Russian forces out of the region, they added: “I haven’t heard anyone saying that Crimea can be retaken - I haven’t heard Ukrainians say that either.
“I would be very surprised if that scenario was in anyone’s mind.”
The official suggested two outcomes were possible in Crimea.
“You can either agree something between Russia and Ukraine on Crimea or you can have a frozen conflict,” they warned.
“I haven’t heard anyone make a decision about the balance of those two scenarios.”
The official believed Mr Zelensky had not publicly discussed Crimea’s future for fear of demoralising his forces.
Kremlin troops have also backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region from 2014.
“Privately, Zelensky has talked about Crimea, he has talked about the Donbas and Luhansk, but he has not given any indication of where the line might be drawn,” said the Western source.
“Zelensky won’t say that he’s not going to retake Crimea - he needs his military commanders and his fighters to be full of fire and he’s very wary of saying anything that reduces their motivation.”
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