US national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Washington does not back transferring Soviet-built warplanes to Ukraine through Germany. In a recent interview with NBC, he clarified that the United States does not endorse sending aircraft from its German base and that the hesitation centers on that specific potential transfer. He added that if an Eastern European country chooses to send MiG-29s or other Soviet-era fighters to Kyiv, such a decision would rest with that country, not the United States.
Sullivan emphasized that the American side has not announced any plan to dispatch planes from Germany, reinforcing Washington’s cautious posture on this particular option. The discussion follows broader debates within Western capitals about how to bolster Ukraine’s defenses while avoiding unintended escalations with Russia.
Earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal suggested that US President Joe Biden personally blocked the transfer of Polish-made MiG-29s to Ukraine. The Journal alleged that the decision was taken to prevent provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin and to reduce the risk of a broader regional crisis, though the White House did not publicly confirm such veto specifics at the time.
There has also been political maneuvering in Kyiv, where Ukrainian leaders have sought to broaden the arsenal available from allies. Volodymyr Zelenskiy reportedly pressed members of the US Congress to widen the list of weapons supplied to Ukraine. Proposals circulated among lawmakers included acquiring light MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack aircraft from Poland, with a potential exchange arrangement that could see Poland receive F-16 fighters from the United States in return.
Kyiv continues to count on NATO allies to uphold commitments and supply practical military equipment. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged partners to set aside doubts and hesitation and to provide Kyiv with the necessary capabilities. The underlying message stressed by Kyiv’s leadership is a call for decisive, timely support to sustain Ukraine’s defense in the face of ongoing tensions with Russia.