Putin threatens ‘response’ if UK gives planes to Ukraine: Kremlin warns of ‘military-political consequences for the European continent and the entire world’ if London ‘escalates’ conflict
- President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for aircraft during a visit to Britain today
- But Russian Embassy in London has warned UK against supplying warplanes
Vladimir Putin has threatened a ‘response’ if the UK supplies planes to Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky today made his first visit to Britain since the outbreak of the war last year, warning that the war could ‘stagnate’ if jets are not forthcoming from the West.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking at a joint press conference this evening, admitted ‘nothing is off the table’ when pushed on providing aircraft and stressed that Britain is now going to start preparing the Ukrainian air force.
But Moscow has threatened a ‘response’ if the Government does supply planes, with some Nato states concerned about provoking a direct clash.
The Russian Embassy in London strongly warned the UK against supplying the warplanes, saying Britain would bear responsibility ‘for another twist of escalation and the ensuing military-political consequences for the European continent and the entire world’.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrive to meet Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility in Lulworth, Dorset
Moscow has threatened a ‘response’ if the Government does supply planes. Pictured: Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with the secretaries of the security councils of several countries on the Afghan problem at the Kremlin
Britain has offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots on top of an existing programme that has already prepared 10,000 troops for battle.
Boris Johnson, meanwhile, has urged the UK to offer all its fighter jets and tanks, saying that countering Russian aggression was the ‘best use’ for the UK’s 100 Typhoon jets and similar stocks of Challenger tanks.
READ MORE: Zelensky swipes at Rishi Sunak’s claim it takes three years to train to fly UK fighter jets
Mr Sunak has cautioned that ‘first step’ will take ‘some time’. ‘Throughout this conflict we have been out in front,’ he said denying there was any ‘reticence’.
He said it was important Ukraine pilots can ‘actually operate the aircraft that they will be using’.
Mr Zelensky enjoyed a ceremony-filled day in London, where he also met King Charles III and addressed parliament.
Dressed in his usual green fatigues, he received waves of applause as he made a historic address to both the lower and upper houses of parliament on what was only his second overseas trip since the war began.
He said: ‘I appeal to you and the world… for combat aircrafts for Ukraine, wings for freedom.’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office said he had tasked the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace with ‘investigating what jets we might be able to give but, to be clear, this is a long-term solution rather than a short-term capability’.
In the meantime, the new UK training will ‘ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future’, an earlier statement from Sunak’s office said.
Speaking alongside Mr Zelensky in front of a British tank, the PM said ‘nothing is off the table’ for Ukraine – including fighter-combat aircraft.
At a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky following a tour of a training base for troops in Dorset, Rishi Sunak said the West must ‘arm Ukraine in the short term’ and ‘bolster’ it in the long-term
‘Of course they are part of the conversation’, he admitted, but held back from giving a concrete commitment to provide fighter planes.
Mr Zelensky said fighter jets had been discussed and reiterated his call for longer-range missiles.
He is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.
While the UK operates F-35 and Typhoon jets, the older F-16s widely used by other Nato states have been seen as a better option and easier to deploy on the current battlefield.
However, a UK decision to offer planes would be symbolically important and put pressure on other countries to follow suit.
Mr Zelensky said: ‘You’ve just asked me what would happen if we don’t get these fighter jets or longer-range missiles, or we don’t have enough ammunition, because everything obviously is running out and coming out of maintenance.
‘Without the weapons that we are discussing now and the weapons that we just discussed with Rishi earlier today and how Britain is going to help us, you know, all of this is very important. Without this, there would be stagnation which will not bring to anything good.’
Pushed on whether the UK would provide jets, Rishi Sunak said ‘nothing is off the table’ and stressed Britain is now going to start preparing the Ukrainian air force
Mr Zelensky acknowledged that ‘not everything depends just on the decision of Great Britain’.
‘I will be working in that direction because this is how we have been able to change many things,’ he said.
‘We are intensifying our diplomacy and I do believe within a day we will be able to meet with a dozen EU leaders and then we will go back home.
‘All of these conversations, they have to take place quickly.’
He added: ‘I didn’t even know it takes three years to train a pilot like that.
‘Come on, we will be sending you pilots who have already trained for two and a half-years.’
It comes as Mr Zelensky also made a visit to France – which by contrast appeared to have been squeezed in at the last minute – where he held a late dinner meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, joined by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
But the Ukrainian leader is understood to have kept his counterparts waiting.
Mr Zelensky was due at the ‘working dinner’ in Paris on Thursday night, but there was no sign of him in the French capital long after 9pm.
It follows well publicised tensions between Mr Zelensky and both Mr Macron and Mr Scholz over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing war.
A diplomatic source in Paris said: ‘Mr Zelensky was due to touch down at Orly airport before 9pm, and then get to the Elysee for the dinner, but clearly there is a delay.
‘Security staff and other officials are still waiting for the plane.. When Mr Zelensky finally arrives, he will be escorted to the Elysee.’
As a Republican Honour Guard waited for Mr Zelensky’s plane, a red carpet was laid out on the Oly runway, and the soldiers marched around it to keep warm.
Despite this, there was still no sign of Mr Zelensky when Mr Scholz arrived at the Elysee just before 9.30pm.
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