WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday closed the door on supplying combat aircraft to Ukraine, saying that the intelligence community assessed it would be a “high risk” move that could be mistaken by Russia as an escalatory step.
The Pentagon, which suggested other weapons transfers should take priority, announced the U.S. position after a call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Polish counterpart, a day after Poland offered to transfer Russian-made fighter jets to U.S. custody for further transfer to Ukraine.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler)
