In a Sunday interview, the Biden administration’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that NATO member nations have the “green light” to go ahead and send fighter jets to Ukraine amidst the country’s ongoing invasion by Russia.
“NATO has said none of its 30 members are willing to set up a no fly zone. President Biden has been very clear. He has no interest in that or combat troops,” said “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan during Blinken’s media appearance. “But what more can the United States do here? If, for instance, the Polish government, a NATO member, wants to send fighter jets, does that get a green light from the US? Or you were afraid that that will escalate tension?”
“No, that—that gets a green light,” Blinken responded.
“In fact, we’re talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to back fill their needs if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians,” he continued, adding that the Biden administration is in “very active discussions” with the embattled nation.
“I’ve been in Europe for the last couple of days working closely as always with our allies and partners at NATO, the European Union, the G7 countries, and all of us together are continuing to take steps to increase the pressure on Russia through additional sanctions, all of which are very actively under discussion and will be implemented in the coming days, as well as taking further steps to give the Ukrainians what they need to defend themselves against the Russian aggression,” Blinken added.
“In fact, we’re talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to back fill their needs if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians,” he continued, adding that the Biden administration is in “very active discussions” with the embattled nation.
