<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">President Duda's comments come despite him and President Zelensky having spoken this week - at the end of the Ukrainian leader's surprise headline-grabbing European tour. In London, President Zelensky used his speech in Parliament to call for the means to help fight Russia in the air:</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I appeal to you and the world with the simple, and yet most important words - combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ukraine's leader repeated that call in Paris and Brussels, in a rare departure from his country, under the tightest of security. He made headlines right around the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Warsaw, President Duda told me sending F-16 jets would pose a "serious problem" because, with fewer than 50 of the aircraft in the Polish air force, "we have not enough… and we would need many more of them."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also stressed that combat aircraft, like the F-16s, have a "very serious need for maintenance" so it's "not enough just to send a few planes".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With Poland being a Nato member, said Mr Duda, any decision to provide fighter jets had to be a "joint decision" - rather than one for any single country to take.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are also nerves about whether providing planes would pull Nato directly into the conflict - and even into war against Russia itself. At the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Duda said sending jets would "open a military interference in the Ukrainian conflict". But - in direct response to Ukraine's request for planes this week - the Polish leader's comments are significant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As Ukraine's neighbour, President Duda has been one of the most ardent supporters of President Zelensky and has contributed vast amounts of military aid, becoming the main supplier of heavy weaponry - including infantry fighting vehicles and artillery, drones and ammunition.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Duda was also at the forefront of pushing other allies to promise to provide tanks in recent weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After notable reluctance from Germany, and a fraught debate across Europe about the risks of escalating the conflict, Leopard tanks will arrive in Ukraine, along with Challengers from the UK and Abrams from the US.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poland has also provided homes to millions of Ukrainian refugees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Duda is adamant that "weaponry has to be delivered to Ukraine all the time… it needs armaments." But it is clear he doesn't think sending combat aircraft in large numbers is likely from Poland or any other ally, at least in the short term.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The UK also made it clear pretty rapidly that sending planes to Ukraine was not realistic in the immediate future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "nothing was off the table" while he savoured his photo opportunity with President Zelensky in front of a tank this week - jeans tucked into unlaced boots, tieless, alongside the Ukrainian leader in his familiar army sweatshirt and combat trousers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But before too long, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was making plain that would mean training for pilots and other support first. No UK jets will take off for Ukraine any time soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All week, British politicians have been falling over themselves to associate with the biggest political celebrity in the world right now, President Zelenksy, sharing their blurry phone snaps of his historic Westminster Hall speech and giving interviews about how moving it was to be there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron greeted him like a film star in front of the Elysee Palace. EU leaders then frantically tweeted pictures of their own "grip and grin" moments with the Ukrainian leader later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is staunch support for President Zelensky without doubt. It's not just shown in flowery language and promises of commitment but, as President Duda explains, with guns, tanks and drones, plus support for refugees, rather than selfies with MPs. Western allies emphasise how countries have come together in a way that will have disappointed and frustrated Vladimir Putin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leaders, like Poland's president, underline the threat they feel to their own countries. Talking to him in Warsaw about the conflict is a world away from conversations in Westminster, with the Russian border at Kaliningrad only about 200 miles away.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dilemma over jets is another example of the fraught calculations our leaders face. What is practically possible in terms of supporting Ukraine? And what is politically and diplomatically viable, without provoking a wider war?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Poland and other countries' firm backing does not mean the West, or even Ukraine's closest allies, will or can say "yes" to his every request. One senior diplomatic source suggests President Zelensky is, of course, well aware of this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His headline-grabbing journey this week was not just about the jets, and it doesn't look like it will soon result in "wings for freedom". But - as we approach the anniversary of Russia's invasion - his European tour's careful choreography, and powerful imagery will have reminded not just Western politicians but also their publics, of what is at stake. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>