There is a debate within the Biden administration about just how far the boundary can be pushed before risking escalation. Anything that the United States does preforce effects NATO, and so in NATO, you have the United States plus 29 other countries to consider. There's another reason that's pushing them toward the aircraft decision. The numbers vary, but 42 have been promised now, but I expect the number to be about 100. But they've provided also 150 or so maybe 200 Armored personnel carriers. These are very important systems, but if you need to give them the maximum protection and effectiveness, you need air support without that.
As the war in Ukraine reaches its one year anniversary, there is still no clear end in sight. And while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy anticipates Russia’s spring offensive, he’s been clear in asking the West for one thing - fighter jets. On this episode of the podcast defence expert Rajan Menon and policy expert Anatol Lieven discuss how crucial jets could be for Ukraine’s defence, what the western countries’ national interest is in giving them, and whether support for Ukraine in this war could wane as time goes on. Our host for this episode is The Sunday Times Special Correspondent, Josh Glancy.
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