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Ukraine says Poland could provide it with F-16 fighter jets

31.01.2023 07:30
A senior Ukrainian presidential aide has said that Poland is willing to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets in a move coordinated with NATO allies, according to news outlets.
A senior Ukrainian presidential aide has said that Poland is sending positive signals about supplying his country with F-16 fighter jets in a move coordinated with NATO allies, according to news outlets.
A senior Ukrainian presidential aide has said that Poland is sending "positive signals" about supplying his country with F-16 fighter jets in a move coordinated with NATO allies, according to news outlets.Konflikty.pl (Attribution or Attribution), via Wikimedia Commons

Andriy Yermak, who is the most senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, made the remark on Monday, Britain’s The Guardian newspaper reported.

Yermak said in a post on the Telegram social messaging app that Kyiv had “positive signals” from Warsaw about sending F-16 fighter jets, according to The Hill website. 

However, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said: “We coordinate all actions aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defence forces with our NATO partners.”

Speaking at a news conference where he announced plans to raise Poland’s defence spending to 4 percent of GDP, Morawiecki added that any potential transfer of fighter jets would come “in full coordination" with NATO allies.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said on Monday that the United States would not be providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

NATO chief calls on South Korea to increase support to Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday urged South Korea to step up its assistance to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, The New York Times reported.

Stoltenberg also hinted Seoul should consider supplying Kyiv with military aid, according to the NYT.  

The NATO chief said during a visit to the South Korean capital: “On the specific issue of military support, I would say that’s, at the end of the day, a decision for you to make. But I will say that several NATO allies, who had as a policy never to export weapons to countries in conflict, have changed that policy now.”

Stoltenberg cited Germany, Sweden and Norway as examples, and said that South Korea should “step up” its support, the NYT reported.

‘Significant’ deficit in Ukraine’s energy system due to Russian missile attacks

Ukraine’s state-run energy operator Ukrenergo on Monday said that  there was a “significant” deficit in the country’s power system due to damage caused by Russian missile attacks. 

The company added that Ukraine’s energy system had “survived” 13 missile attacks and 15 drone strikes from Russian forces, which had “caused significant damage to high-voltage facilities and power plants”, US broadcaster CNN reported.

Ukrenergo also said that work was in progress to restore energy facilities damaged during a massive attack on January 26.

It added, however, as quoted by CNN, that "after each subsequent Russian attack on the energy infrastructure, the restoration becomes more difficult and takes longer."

Tuesday is day 342 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, The Guardian, The Hill, The New York Times, CNN