US general wants fighter jets sent to Ukraine

The commanding general of the California National Guard has called on Washington to provide Kiev with Soviet-designed MiG warplanes

The commanding general of the California National Guard has suggested that the US government and officials in other Western nations should consider providing Ukraine with combat aircraft – something Kiev has long been asking for.

Major General David Baldwin told American media outlet Politico on Friday that Soviet-designed jets, which Ukrainian pilots are familiar with, are the best choice in the short term.

“MiGs are the best immediate solution to support the Ukrainians, but US or Western fighters are options that should be explored as soon as possible,” Baldwin said.

On Thursday, the general also revealed to journalists that US military officials were helping their Ukrainian colleagues pen requests to Western nations for fighter jets.

One scheme, which would have entailed NATO member state Poland handing over its MiGs to Ukraine, with the US replacing the outgoing aircraft with F-16s, fell through back in March. Nevertheless, General Baldwin is still hopeful that the Ukrainian Air Force will eventually receive this type of aircraft, Politico reported.

https://www.rt.com/news/556612-us-general-wants-fighter-jets-ukraine/