Should UK send fighter jets to Ukraine? You voted

The UK should NOT send fighter jets to the Ukraine, according to the majority of Mirror readers.

In an extremely closely-contested poll, 919 respondents were firmly against supplying such military aid, while 780 were all for it.

Downing Street has so far resisted, with UK defence secretary Ben Wallace saying Ukraine is unlikely to receive British fighter jets until after the war with Russia is over.

Rishi Sunak’s government has admitted there is a very real risk of escalation if it helps president Volodymyr Zelensky in such a bold way.

The Kremlin has already warned that sending jets would elicit a military response, to which a No 10 official stressed ’it continues to be Russia that is escalating’.

Many readers were quick to point out the situation was ’politically fragile’, with no easy answers.

Asoundviewpoint said: ’Putin’s grip at present is at its weakest - but not for long . If jets are not sent, the invaded country will remain as such. If jets are sent, an escalation could be increased through Putin’s face-saving requirements.

’The issue I believe requires immediate tank supply to not only delay the advances but to push them back, along with better surface-to-air missile protection’.

Readers in favour of sending fighter jets

Siwaoasis1963: ’We must send all material support including aircraft to prevent this aggression in Europe we have not seen since 1945! Stand up to bullies or you end up in greater problems and more death and destruction. If we had taken a stand in 2014 this further aggression would not have happened!’

Kenlivia: ’Aircraft for Ukraine, their air service certainly needs some airpower, as of now - not in many months’ time. The Ukrainian pilots are already capable of driving the Mig 29, why not therefore give Ukraine the many Mig29 that Poland are looking to upgrade for the F16 from the USA?. These Polish Migs could be operating on missions in days, plus all the armaments and parts are very readily available. Give Ukraine airpower now, of the types their pilots can use.’

Phuchai99: ’Some politicians prattle on about Ukraine needing to start peace talks. When Britain was on the brink of invasion by the Nazi German regime, there was no talk of kowtowing to Hitler in peace talks. Likewise, Ukraine should carry on fighting the fascist Putin regime. We should send anything they need.’

Razorwfp: ’Defo send them - don’t be panicked about threats of nuclear war.’

Crabbynana: ’The US helped us last time, (1944), let’s just stop Russia now! They are not doing a good job, so a little more help should see them retreat. The Russians should never have invaded Ukraine in the first place ... send help to Ukraine’.

Readers against sending fighter jets

Juscom: ’Definitely not. Would escalate war, not end it.’

Michael Trent: ’We’ve provoked Russia enough now. Putin is an amoral thug, and his invasion of Ukraine was barbaric, but there has to be a limit to how we help Ukraine. We’ve enough problems here already with a government propelled by self-interest and skulduggery. They’d probably love a barney with Russia - a barney that could swiftly turn nuclear - to distract attention from their own inadequacy.’

Pinklady: ’No. We need to look after our own country and get things better here!’

Optimismisthekey: ’We should pull out altogether in my opinion. It’s OK helping other countries but you need to get your own house in order first. It’s not our war, why should we pay? I think the Ukraine is just as corrupt as Russia.’

Jmv69: ’No, definitely not. We’ve sent enough as it is. We need to focus on people in our own country who are suffering because of the Tories’ mess.

FunkyP: ’Not our battle or war but it is heading that way. We are slowly but surely being dragged into this. I’ve served my time. Seen the horrors of what happens on battlefields. I do not want to go back on one again.’

JohnJBrown: ’It will worsen the situation. The war needs to stop, even if Ukraine shrinks a bit. More war means more killed and maimed (amounts about equal on each side), more economic devastation to us in Europe, and a higher possibility of battlefield escalation.’

Forkbeardodinson: ’Sell or even give military hardware by all means but not a single member of the UK Armed Forces should be involved other than training their pilots over here.’

Paul Speed