Westminster hails Zelensky as Poland sends its jet fighters to Ukraine

Shortly after President Zelensky’s electrifying address to a packed House of Commons this evening, Poland stunned many world leaders with its decision to hand over all of its MiG fighter jets to the US Rammstein Air Base in Germany for transfer to the Ukraine airforce.

In a statement issued this evening by the Polish Foreign Secretary, the government declared: “The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Government, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America. At the same time, Poland requests the United States to provide us with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately establish the conditions of purchase of the planes.”

What’s more, the Polish government urges other NATO Allies, owners of MIG-29 jets “to act in the same vein.” In return for handing over its fighter jets, Poland will receive used US aircraft – most likely to be F-16’s – with equivalent capabilities. How Russia will respond to Poland’s latest aggressive move – and whether President Putin will view it as a direct attack – is not yet known but it without question raises the stakes in this bloody war to a new level. 

Such an astonishing decision by Poland will go down well with Zelensky, who was beamed via video into the Commons on enormous screens, from Kyiv. Ever since the outbreak of fighting 13 days ago, the Ukrainian president has been calling on Nato allies for more help for Ukraine’s airforce, going so far as to demand that allies operate a no-fly zone, which until now has been a red-line for Nato. Quite how Russia will respond to Poland’s aggressive – or view it as a direct attack – is unclear but raises the stakes in this bloody war to a new level. 

Zelensky repeated his request again today to the Commons, pleading with the UK to continue with harsh sanctions, to recognise Russia as a “terrorist state” and to make sure the Ukrainian skies remained safe before bidding MP’s farewell saying: “Слава Великобританії” (Glory to Great Britain). 

Although 2,400 kilometres away in Kyiv, Zelensky’s virtual presence in Westminster was greeted with roaring applause, his words echoing that of another national wartime hero. Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would not surrender to Russia, summoning Churchillian spirit as he told MP’s: “We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores and in the streets – whatever the costs.”

As well as channelling one of Churchill’s most famous wartime speeches (also delivered in the very same Chamber), the president also quoted another national hero, Shakespeare. “The question for us now is to be or not be,” he told parliament. “For 15 days, this question has been asked, and I can give you the definitive answer is yes – to be.”

The Chamber then rose to give the president a standing ovation.

His address came on the thirteenth day of the Russian-Ukraine invasion, against the backdrop of even tougher sanctions that the US, EU and UK will target the Russian oil and gas sector to up the ante in their move against Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Earlier today, U.S President Joe Biden declared a ban on Russian oil and energy imports to target the main “artery” of Russia’s economy to add further economic pressure. Biden said the plan would enable the American people to “deal another powerful blow” to Putin’s “war machine.” He added that the ban had strong bipartisan support from everyday Americans who have “rallied to support the Ukrainian people.”

After Poland’s move in the skies, the stakes just got higher still.