On March 9, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy again asked the United States and Poland to find a way to send Mi-29 fighters to Ukraine, saying in a video speech: "We thank Poland for its willingness to provide Fighter Jets to Ukraine, the question is how to get it to Ukrainian pilots in its entirety, in fact, this is a technical problem that must be solved." At the end of his speech, Zelenskiy stressed: "This is not table tennis. It's about human life, and we ask again: it's going to be resolved as soon as possible. Don't shirk your responsibilities and send us the plane. ”
The day before Zelenskiy made the remarks, Poland surprised the United States by announcing that it would send all Mi-29 fighters to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The Pentagon delayed the move, saying it would raise concerns about NATO's direct involvement in the conflict with Russia.
However, just as the United States and Poland are racking their brains about how to provide warplanes to Ukraine, on March 10, US Vice President Harris visited Poland, according to the latest reports in the Polish media, Harris has arrived in Poland, and she will hold talks with Polish President Duda on the current situation in Ukraine.
According to the US media, after the United States rejected Poland's proposal, one of the main tasks of Harris's trip to Poland was to explore a path with Poland: how to deliver Poland's Mi-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, but for Harris, the trip to Poland was an awkward diplomatic moment.
On March 9, when asked by reporters about Harris's visit to Poland and the supply of Soviet fighter jets to Ukraine, Psaki said that the fighter issue would not be the focus of Harris's meeting with Duda, but it was expected that Harris would help solve the problem because it would all be operational. At the same time, she also said: "There are obvious logistical challenges in the Polish proposal, allowing the aircraft to enter Ukraine in a way that does not escalate the situation, possibly having to disassemble and reassemble the aircraft and ensuring that the aircraft arrive safely in Ukraine in the context of the current war."
In response to Psaki's claims, the Pentagon categorically rejected the idea that day. According to the US CNN report, US Pentagon spokesman Kirby said in the defense briefing on the same day: Whether Poland directly handed over Soviet fighters to Ukraine, and then the US fighters supplemented the Polish Air Force strength, or Poland handed over the fighters to the United States, and then the United States handed over to Ukraine, the current position of the United States is not to support the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine, because according to the assessment of US intelligence agencies, Putin has regarded "providing fighters to Ukraine" as an escalation of the situation and an act of increasing hostility to Russia. This is likely to inspire a strong military response from Russia, which in turn will escalate tensions between Russia and NATO.
Kirby's statement is likely to imply that the United States has abandoned efforts to supply ukraine with warplanes. However, Kirby himself also said that since it is impossible to provide warplanes, the United States is currently discussing with many countries the possibility of providing air defense systems to Ukraine. But it did not say what kind of air defense system it would supply to Ukraine and how. It is worth noting that on March 9, British Minister Wallace announced in the lower house of parliament that the British government will provide Ukraine with the "Starlight" air defense system independently developed and built by the United Kingdom.
Against the backdrop of the current outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, Harris's trip to Poland has attracted widespread media attention. According to White House officials, Harris's goal of visiting Poland also includes plans related to future sanctions against Russia, responding to the refugee crisis and providing military assistance to Ukraine, in addition to meetings with the Polish president, she will also visit Ukrainian refugees, who will also visit Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who is also visiting Poland, and on March 11, she will inspect U.S. troops in Poland.
After her trip to Poland, she herself will travel to Romania. According to the US media, Harris's trip to Eastern Europe may be more effective in appeasing Eastern European countries, after all, this time Russia suddenly launched a special military operation against Ukraine, and the whole of Eastern Europe has been worried.