But the U.S. Department of Defense opposed the transfer of Polish planes to Ukraine, a senior administration official told TheTeCHyWorLD, and Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby cited both logistical and military complications of such a hand-off.
In particular, Blinken expressed concern on Tuesday about the prospect of U.S. pilots departing from a NATO-controlled base in Germany into Russian-contested airspace over Ukraine. Such an arrangement might drag the U.S. and NATO into open conflict with Russia.
“It’s not simply clear to us that there’s a substantive rationale for doing it in the way that was put forward yesterday,” Blinken said. “So what we’re doing right now is continuing to consult very closely with Poland with other NATO allies on this and the logistical challenges that it presents.”
Blinken on Wednesday also dismissed calls for a NATO-enforced partial no-fly zone over Ukraine, an idea that has gained steam among foreign policy elites in the U.S. Blinken stated that such enforcement — which would include introducing American pilots into Ukrainian airspace — “would almost certainly lead to direct conflict” between U.S. forces and Russia.
“That would expand the conflict. It would prolong it. It would make it much more deadly than it already is,” Blinken said. “And that would be neither in the interest of our countries, nor in the interest of Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked NATO member countries to implement a no-fly zone and to provide fighter jets, including in a Zoom call with U.S. lawmakers on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy called for a resolution to be reached “immediately” between Poland and the U.S., noting that Ukrainians “do not have time” for indecision.
“This is not ping pong! This is about human lives!” Zelenskyy said in a speech. “We ask once again: solve it faster. Do not shift the responsibility, send us planes.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Wednesday that deliberations are ongoing between Ukrainian officials and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Gen. Mark Milley and other DoD officials. And Vice President Kamala Harris departed for a previously planned trip to Warsaw Wednesday morning, where she will meet with Polish leaders and discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
“If I were in President Zelenskyy’s position, I’m sure I would be asking for everything possible, in his mind, to help the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said.