Ben Wallace will meet Nato defence ministers to ‘discuss fighter jets’ for Ukraine as Putin launches spring offensive

BEN Wallace will join Nato defence ministers in Brussels tomorrow, where the leaders are expected to discuss sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

The crunch talks come as Mad Vlad Putin begins a series of Spring offensives, ahead of the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

British military chiefs yesterday warned that Putin’s troops have been commanded to advance in “most sectors”.

But so far they’ve failed to make significant gains.

The Ministry of Defence said the enemy army has “not massed sufficient offensive combat power” on any one axis to “achieve a decisive effect”.

In the South, Russian advances have “likely made little progress”.

And in the northern area of Kreminna-Svatove “continuous offensive efforts” are being made, but on “too small a scale to achieve a significant breakthrough”.

In Brussels, defence leaders will meet from today to discuss supplying more weapons to the heroic Ukraine.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg admitted the provision of fighter jets will likely to come up in meetings.

“There is now a discussion going on also on the question of aircrafts and I expect that also to be addressed tomorrow at the meeting in Brussels,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“We see no sign whatsoever that President Putin is preparing for peace.

“What we see is President Putin and Russia still wanting to control Ukraine.

“We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky desperately wants Nato allies to provide jets.

In an emotional landmark speech to Parliament last week, the President pleaded for planes – “wings for freedom” – to help his country crush tyrant Putin.

In his first visit to the UK since the war began, Zelensky said: “I appeal to you and the world with simple and yet the most important words.

“Combat aircrafts for Ukraine. Wings for freedom.”

Rishi Sunak last week said that “nothing was off the table” as the UK began to train Ukrainian pilots on our fleet of Typhoon jets during the President’s surprise visit. 

But he stopped well short of promising to hand over part of our 137 strong stockpile. 

Mr Sunak said sending the extra air support had been part of the discussions during the historic visit but training pilots for the Typhoon fleet can take up to five years and at least three.