Spain rules out fighter jets for Ukraine

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – Spain will not send any type of combat planes to Ukraine, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Friday.

Spain will always be “very respectful” of the decisions taken by other allies to help Ukraine, but will not join them in sending fighter jets, Robles told reporters at the Defense Ministry.

“Spain’s position has always been very clear. We are not going to send combat planes,” she said.

She pointed out that Spain’s F-18s and Eurofighters require special training that is “very different” from that of the Soviet-era MiG-29s that Poland or Slovakia are sending to Ukraine.

Slovakia on Friday announced it will donate 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine, a day after Poland said it will hand over a dozen fighter jets.

Regarding Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s late February remarks that Spain would consider Ukraine’s request for air support, Robles said the premier was clear that Madrid remains open to all possibilities.

However, Spain does not have the planes that Ukraine specifically wants, she added.

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