Nazar Steporuk11:52, 18.02.23
Ben Wallace warned against overestimating the supply of Western tanks and other heavy equipment.
Ukraine will receive fighter jets , but only after the end of the war with Russia, as pilot training takes a long time. And tanks should not be considered a “magic potion” that will change the situation at the front in one day.
Such statements were made by British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in a commentary to the German edition of Der Spiegel . He said: “There will be no quick deliveries of fighters [from Britain], certainly not at this stage of the war and certainly not in six months.”
The official added that there is a “consensus among Western partners” on this issue. However, Wallace did not rule out the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine as a whole. According to him, aircraft such as the Eurofighter can be provided to our country after the war, because pilot training takes a long time. And it also requires a lot of skilled technicians to maintain fighter jets.
“Nevertheless, being ready in principle to take this step at some point, we again signal our determination to help Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Wallace added.
The British defense minister also spoke about the supply of Western-style heavy tanks to Ukraine: “Of course, tanks will make Ukrainians stronger, but they are not a magic potion that will change everything in one day.”
(C)UNIAN 2023
Undoubtedly, this is the stupidest statement of the month.
He has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. I don’t know what prompted this terrible statement. Did someone tell him to “manage expectations?” Anyway, it’s a bitter blow to British-Ukrainian relations.
He could partially redeem himself by sending Storm Shadow.
I can’t make heads or tails out of this. I expect others to say such stupid things, but no one from the UK government.
“Ukraine will receive fighter jets , but only after the end of the war with Russia, as pilot training takes a long time.”
Not for pilots already serving in the UAF. This is just more BS to stop Ukraine winning this war. The West still haven’t learned what happens when you appease nazis.
They have already committed to training Ukr pilots on simulators.
The transition to western aircraft is inevitable and I’m sure Ukraine/NATO realize that. Everyone seems to agree training right away too. Then it seems its just a matter of who and where. The puzzling part for me is the supply of replacement aircraft if the old Soviet stuff is given to Ukraine to win this war. That seems like a no-brainer. Temporary protection can come from a number of places for Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania while they wait for their F-16 replacements. Or am I missing something?
RAF simulators are highly regarded.
RAF training, starting this spring, “will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future. As part of that long-term capability investment, the U.K. will work with Ukraine and international allies to coordinate collective support to meet Ukraine’s defensive needs.”
While the UK does not operate the F-16, that’s not to say that it couldn’t provide relevant training for this type or other NATO-standard fighter jets that could potentially be transferred to Ukraine in the future.
All that needs to be done is ship all MIG’S from Eastern Nato members to Ukraine and give them F-16’s, F-22’s and F-35’s as replacement. Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland already ordered new US planes.
I think that already happened, mostly under the guise of “spare parts”.
Only a few Eastern European countries had MIGs.