Duda on giving Ukraine F16s: There is little potential in Poland

Poland lacks fighter jets to protect its own airspace so giving up any aircraft in favor of Ukraine would be a "very serious decision."

President Andrzej Duda of Poland spoke of this on national television, Ukrinform reports with reference to Radio Liberty.

Duda explained that Poland still has in possession some Soviet-era aircraft that were purchased from the Soviet Union or Germany when the GDR army ceased to exist. Back then, Poland received modern MiG-29 aircraft, some of which are still in service.

Regarding the F16 fighter jets purchased in the U.S. as part of the modernization of the Air Force, Duda noted: "There are only 48 of these aircraft, so there are not so many of them. Consider that one American aircraft carrier has 100 planes. That is, there is little potential in our country."

The president recalled that Poland also ordered two aircraft squadrons from the U.S. and is buying modern fighter jets from South Korea. They are expected to be delivered at the end of this year.

"But this is the future, and today the facts are that we are short of F16s, which greatly protect our airspace. Giving up on any of these aircraft would be a very serious decision, given that they require serious and costly maintenance. Therefore, we don’t rule out that this will require broader action on the part of NATO," Duda concluded.

As reported earlier, the commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, is convinced that providing Ukraine with advanced Western weapons, including F-16 fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, and long-range missiles, will allow the nation to defeat Russia.