Zelensky asks for US help to get Russian fighters to fight Moscow – 05/03/2022 – World

ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyheld a video meeting with US senators and asked for help getting fighters for his air force.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said of the Saturday meeting (5) that the Ukrainian leader “has made a desperate request to European countries to provide Ukraine with Russian planes”.

“I will do everything I can to help,” the Democrat added in a statement. More than 280 senators attended the conversation. However, it is not clear how Washington can help move these Russian planes, which must come from European countries that already have them.

The plane that Zelensky has in mind is MiG 29, operated by two NATO countries (the Western military alliance), Poland and Slovakia, its neighbour. Before the war, Ukraine had 37 of these Soviet models, older than Russia’s operational aircraft.

The European Union had already promised to finance the delivery of fighter jets to the Ukrainians, but the promise comes up against many. logistical challenges.

Even if Kyiv pilots sought to search for aircraft, the risk of shooting them down when entering the airspace is high. Traveling with NATO personnel is indisputable so you don’t face the Russians head-on and risk a major war.

Then the devices will have to be partially disassembled and loaded into trucks, but this can be determined by the Russian surveillance services, exposing the convoys to an air attack.

It is not known how many of Zelensky’s planes were actually lost in Putin’s campaign. a The Ukrainian insisted on creating a no-fly zone to try to protect himself from bombing, But NATO rejected the idea for the same problem: it could not do so without confronting the Russians in combat.

At the meeting with US senators, Zelensky again requested the implementation of the no-fly zone.

Senators posted messages of support for the Ukrainian after the conversation, such as Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham, both Republicans.

A source familiar with the meeting said minority leader Mitch McConnell (also a Republican) is working with Democrat Schumer to get help for Ukraine.

The package will include a total of $10 billion (more than R$50 billion) in economic, humanitarian and security assistance.

At the meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkin, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba repeated the request for aircraft and also asked his allies to send anti-aircraft defense devices.

“If they continue to provide us with the necessary weapons, the price will be lower. It will save many lives,” he said.