According to a spokesperson of the US Pentagon, the US does not currently support the transfer of additional combat aircraft to Ukraine at this time, reported Reuters. Rather, the US sees the need for other weapons to be sent to help Ukraine, the spokesperson added, noting that Ukraine currently has several squadrons of fully mission-capable aircraft and thus the gain would be low, but could lead to an escalation of tensions with Russia.

The transfer of the MIG-29 aircraft to Ukraine had been assessed to be "high risk", noted the spokesperson adding that the US Defense Secretary would soon travel to Brussels for a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers.