US, Poland discuss security, humanitarian aid for Ukraine

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The top diplomats from the US and Poland discussed ways to provide Ukraine with humanitarian and security assistance on Thursday amid stalled efforts to send Kyiv fighter jets.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau discussed "ongoing diplomatic efforts, including sanctions, to stop Putin’s war of aggression," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"The Secretary reiterated the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed the continued importance of providing security assistance to Ukraine," Price said in a readout of a telephone call.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought fighter jets from the West but the US rejected a proposal from Poland that would have seen its fleet of MiG-29 jets sent to a US airbase in Germany and flown from there to Ukraine.

The Pentagon said the Polish proposal was "high risk,” does not support the transfer of additional fighter aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force "at this time," and it has “no desire to see them in our custody either."

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global companies from Russia.

At least 516 civilians have been killed and 908 others injured in Ukraine, according to UN figures, with the real toll feared to be higher.

More than 2.1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

Blinken thanked Rau for Poland's efforts to host more than 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees "fleeing Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine," according to the State Department.