UK won't immediately transfer fighter jets to Ukraine - Ben Wallace

BBC reported this with reference to Ben Wallace's statement. 

Speaking at a conference in Rome, Ben Wallace argued that it is “more realistic and productive” to envision the UK providing aircraft to Ukraine in the long term to ensure its security after the war with Russia ends.

According to him, the United Kingdom will not immediately hand over the fighter jets to Ukraine: the process could potentially take months.

Ben Wallace noted that instead, the UK is focused on using alternative air defense support for Ukraine. And air support and support for mobile troops can be provided by long-range missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

“This is not a simple case of towing an aircraft to the border. Britain knows what Ukraine needs and is very happy to help in many ways trying to achieve the effect. Those same effects can be done, but potentially through a different way - and without taking months, which of course gifting fighter jets would take,” he said. 

• On February 8, Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the UK Parliament, where he called for a coalition of aircraft and said that these were “wings for freedom.”

• After that, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak instructed Defense Minister Ben Wallace to investigate what aircraft the country could transfer to Ukraine. 

• On February 9, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron and asked for the supply of combat aircraft to Ukraine.