Jets to protect skies in Ukraine could come from France

    WORLD  27 January 2023 - 14:39

    France could agree to Volodymyr Zelensky’s demands for fighter jets to defend Ukraine’s skies, the chairman of the French defence committee said on January 26.

    It came as the UK confirmed that British tanks would arrive in Ukraine in time for an expected Russian spring offensive, joining German-made Leopards being sent to Kyiv within weeks, per The Telegraph.

    “Everyone should feel very proud of the leadership role that we have played, one of the early nations to provide tanks to Ukraine," said Rishi Sunak, the prime minister.

    One of the next steps up in Western military aid would be planes.

    Thomas Gassilloud said Paris had conditions on that issue but did not rule out France sending planes to Kyiv in another stepping up of Western support for Ukraine.

    “Regarding deliveries to Ukraine, we must study requests on a case-by-case basis and leave all the doors open,” he said after talks in London with his British counterpart Tobias Ellwood and Ben Wallace, the Defence Minister.

    "So we will see in the coming weeks what happens next as things are moving fast," he added. "The Danes and Eastern Europe countries are thinking about it."

    The conditions are that any donations of aircraft do not undermine French or European security and that they are useful for Ukraine.

    The French government could be prepared to offer some of its older generation planes - likely Dassault Mirages - but Paris is aware of the difficulties in training both Ukrainian pilots and the 10 support staff needed for a jet.

    The final condition is that president Emmanuel Macron does not judge the deliveries of the fighter jets to be a risk of escalating the war in Ukraine into a war between Russia and NATO.

    Defence policy is the responsibility of Macron and his defence council but Gassilloud, a veteran and ally of the French president, is an influential voice outside it.

     

    Caliber.Az

    Subscribe to our Telegram channel


Read also

Finland stores equipment in Norway, spurred by Russia’s range New NATO trick

08 May 2024 - 05:24

US seeks to curb Iran’s fundraising capacity in Southeast Asia

08 May 2024 - 03:18

Germany sends two warships to Indo-Pacific amid China and Taiwan tensions

08 May 2024 - 01:20

US says Israel committed to reopening Kerem Shalom crossing on May 8

07 May 2024 - 23:23

US FAA opens probe into Boeing 787 inspections

07 May 2024 - 20:47

Guterres urges Israel, Hamas "to show political courage" and secure ceasefire

07 May 2024 - 19:17
ADVERTS
Video
Latest news

    Finland stores equipment in Norway, spurred by Russia’s range

    New NATO trick

    08 May 2024 - 05:24

    US seeks to curb Iran’s fundraising capacity in Southeast Asia

    08 May 2024 - 03:18

    Germany sends two warships to Indo-Pacific amid China and Taiwan tensions

    08 May 2024 - 01:20

    US says Israel committed to reopening Kerem Shalom crossing on May 8

    07 May 2024 - 23:23

    NATO special rep meets Armenian diplomat to mull cooperation & regional dynamics

    07 May 2024 - 21:31

    Baku hosts 7th high-level working group meeting on Caspian Sea issues

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 21:10

    Uzbek president to pay working visit to Moscow on May 8-9

    07 May 2024 - 20:59

    US FAA opens probe into Boeing 787 inspections

    07 May 2024 - 20:47

    Iraqi Kurdistan not to be a center to threaten Iran security

    07 May 2024 - 20:32

    FIFA president invited to COP29

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 20:25

    Pakistani delegation visits Azerbaijan National Defence University

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 20:14

    Azerbaijan chairs BSEC meeting on tourism cooperation, focuses on regional development

    07 May 2024 - 20:07

    Azerbaijani migration service detains 785 foreigners in crackdown on illegal migration

    07 May 2024 - 19:53

    Gunfire breaks out on Kyrgyz-Tajik border

    07 May 2024 - 19:35

    Azerbaijani PM visits monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev in Ankara

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 19:25

    Guterres urges Israel, Hamas "to show political courage" and secure ceasefire

    07 May 2024 - 19:17

    Israeli forces conclude operation in Tulkarem

    VIDEO

    07 May 2024 - 18:50

    Slovak premier wraps up visit to Azerbaijan

    07 May 2024 - 18:38

    Belarus conducts tactical nuclear inspection together with Russia

    07 May 2024 - 18:26

    Poland calls on EU to build joint air-defence system

    07 May 2024 - 18:14

    French MFA summons Russian ambassador over misuse of diplomatic channels

    07 May 2024 - 18:02

    Prime Minister Ali Asadov visits Anitkabir mausoleum in Ankara

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 17:59

    Ukraine exposes network of Russian agents plotting assassination of president Zelenskyy

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 17:50

    Russia reserves right to target British military sites

    MFA spox warns

    07 May 2024 - 17:39

    Armenian PM alleges Catholicos leads political movement

    Favoring ex-president Kocharyan's interests

    07 May 2024 - 17:27

    President Aliyev holds expanded meeting with Slovak PM

    PHOTO

    07 May 2024 - 17:15

    Armenia's Pashinyan affirms commitment to peace talks despite mediator ineffectiveness

    07 May 2024 - 17:03

    Will foreign troops save Ukraine?

    Breaking through

    07 May 2024 - 17:00

    Putin formally takes office as Russian president for six-year term

    07 May 2024 - 16:52

    Sports & Lake Urmia as tools in fighting for Azerbaijani national identity in Iran

    Identity struggles: Sports & environment

    07 May 2024 - 16:46

    Argentina welcomes Baku-Yerevan delimitation process

    07 May 2024 - 16:40

    Bulgarian President Rumen Radev arrives in Azerbaijan for official visit

    07 May 2024 - 16:30

    Armenian Church's political aggression threatens regional peace

    Caliber.Az on YouTube

    07 May 2024 - 16:28

    Azerbaijan, Russia focus on climate finance

    07 May 2024 - 16:25

    Armenian PM, Russian president to discuss diverse agenda in upcoming meeting

    07 May 2024 - 16:16

    Georgian Parliament to consider law on foreign agents in final reading

    07 May 2024 - 16:04

    Сan Middle East knot be cut?

    Israeli analyst weighs in

    07 May 2024 - 15:53

    Turkish-Iraqi relations forge new paths with “Road to Development” initiative

    Shaping Middle East landscape

    07 May 2024 - 15:40

    Limited Israeli operation in Rafah aims to keep pressure on Hamas to agree deal

    Sources tell CNN

    07 May 2024 - 15:28

    Slovak PM: Azerbaijan is exemplary in terms of sovereignty

    07 May 2024 - 15:16

All news