Ukraine issues new plea for fighter jets as war anniversary approaches

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed hard for combat planes last week when he visited London, Paris and Brussels on just his second foreign trip since Russia invaded on February 24 2022

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, United States secretary of defence Lloyd Austin, Ukraine’s defence minister Kyrylo Budanov and Ukraine’s Lieutenant General Yevhen Moisiuk, from left, are seen during the North Atlantic Council round table meeting (Olivier Matthys/AP)

Ukraine renewed its appeal to Western countries for fighter jets to help frustrate Moscow’s invasion, but the United States and its Nato allies and partners are more concerned about Kyiv’s needs for large amounts of ammunition as the war with Russia is set to enter its second year.

Ahead of the meeting of the Ukraine contact group at Nato headquarters, Ukraine made its requirements clear.