Ukraine seeks Western fighter jets

KYIV, JAN 31 (AP): Ukraine is pushing its Western allies to provide it with fighter jets, a week after winning pledges of sophisticated modern tanks to help it beat back Russia’s invasion force after almost a year of fighting.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was due in Paris on Tuesday where discussions about the possible delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine was expected to be on the agenda.

After months of haggling, Ukrainian authorities last week persuaded Western allies to send the tanks.

That decision came despite the hesitation and caution of some NATO members, including the United States and Germany.

There was no indication that a decision on warplanes to Ukraine might come any time soon and no sign that Western countries have changed their earlier stance on the issue.

Some Western leaders have