Tue Sep 24 03:36:18 UTC 2024: ## US Greenlights Poland to Send Fighter Jets to Ukraine, Raising Fears of Direct NATO Involvement
**By Joe Lauria, Consortium News**
On March 7, 2022, just two weeks after Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a significant escalation in American involvement. Speaking from Moldova, he told CBS News that the U.S. would allow NATO member Poland to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine, effectively greenlighting a direct transfer of military equipment to a country at war with Russia.
This move, while framed by the Biden administration as a humanitarian gesture, sparked widespread concern among experts who saw it as a dangerous escalation with the potential to drag NATO into direct conflict with Russia. Critics pointed out that the transfer of military equipment, especially fighter jets, would likely be seen by Moscow as a direct attack on Russian forces and potentially trigger an aggressive response.
The decision to provide fighter jets to Ukraine was met with mixed reactions. While some praised the move as a necessary step to support Ukraine’s defense, others expressed alarm at the risk of escalating tensions with Russia. The move has also been criticized for potentially undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully.
**Consortium News** emphasizes that the decision to provide fighter jets to Ukraine represents a major shift in U.S. policy and raises serious questions about the potential consequences for global security.
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