Poland ‘sharing MiG fighter jets’ to help Ukraine fight Putin ‘raises concerns for entire NATO alliance,’ Pentagon warns
POLAND says it's ready to hand over all of its MiG fighter jets to Ukraine in a major boost to the heroes battling the Russian invasion - but the plans have hit a stumbling block.
Russia has warned it will be at war with any country providing planes after the US gave Nato allies the "green light" to supply aircraft to President Zelenskyy's forces.
Despite the tinpot despot's threats, Poland has said it's ready to deploy its MiG-29s to the US Ramstein Air Base in and put them at the disposal of .
It has also called on the US to send F-16 fighters to replace any Soviet-era MiGs it supplies to Kyiv.
However, the Pentagon has tonight rejected the offer.
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Spokesman John Kirby it would mean jets departing from a Nato base would have to fly into airspace contested with Russia.
"We will continue to consult with Poland and our other Nato allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one," he said.
However, the US confirmed earlier that it will be sending two Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries to Poland.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the two countries are working on a deal at the weekend.
He told 's Face the Nation: "That gets a green light.
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"We're talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to backfill their needs if, in fact, they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians.
"What can we do? How can we help to make sure that they get something to backfill the planes that they are handing over to the Ukrainians?"
He added that Nato countries and members of the G7 are "working together" to pressure the Kremlin and introduce more sanctions in the coming days.
He noted however that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "doubling down and digging in on this aggression against Ukraine."
"I think we have to be prepared, unfortunately, tragically, for this to go on for some time," he said.
'BE PREPARED'
When asked about the deal on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: “There were some logistical questions - important ones - that were still under discussion about where those planes would take off from and land.”
However, Kirby played down on the progress to move supply planes.
His statement : "We will continue consulting with our Allies and partners about our ongoing security assistance to Ukraine, because, in fact, Poland's proposal shows just some of the complexities this issue presents.
"The prospect of fighter jets 'at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America' departing from a U.S./NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance.
"It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it.
We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one.
CHILLING THREAT
Russia's defense ministry has issued a chilling threat to any Nato allies considering helping Ukraine by letting its planes land at their airbases.
Spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned: "We know for sure that Ukrainian combat aircraft have flown to Romania and other neighboring countries.
"The use of the airfield network of these countries for basing Ukrainian military aviation with the subsequent use of force against Russia's army can be regarded as the involvement of these states in an armed conflict."
The news comes after days of unspeakable horror in Ukraine.
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR
A Red Cross mission to deliver aid to besieged Mariupol was reportedly hit by a Russian bomb today as victims were buried in mass graves.
The number of casualties is not yet known.
In appalling scenes, a little girl was found dead after her mother was slaughtered in the city.
The eight-year-old died of dehydration after spending days alone without water, power, or heating.
A horrifying photo was also released showing a toddler drenched in blood and wrapped in bandages after an attack on Sumy.
Russia has repeatedly promised a ceasefire to let citizens flee - before breaking his promises and shelling as desperate refugees escape.
CHERNOBYL AT RISK
Meanwhile, Chernobyl's safeguard system is believed to be at risk after Russian soldiers took control of the site.
Despite the horrors he has unleashed, Putin is understood to be shocked and furious at the ferocity of Ukrainians defending their country.
Ukraine says it's claimed 12,000 Russian lives, including those of nine commanders since the invasion began.
And one Kremlin official has reportedly described the campaign to subdue its neighbor as a "cluster***".
Military chiefs have apparently made "apocalyptic" predictions about the conflict, describing the invasion on February 24 as a "mistake".
'APOCALYPTIC' PREDICTIONS
Elsewhere, Zelenskyy made a Churchillian address to the House of Commons via videolink today.
He received a rapturous standing ovation from Brit politicians after defiantly vowing to never surrender.
"We will not give up, and we will not lose. We will fight to the end," said the wartime president, who has remained in Kyiv despite the threat.
"On the sea, in the air. We will fight for our land whatever the cost.
"We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets."
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He also urged the UK to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine so Russian jets could be shot out of the sky.
However, minister Ben Wallace had earlier repeated British reluctance to do so - amid fears the situation could spiral into an all-out nuclear war.
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