With tanks on the way, Ukraine’s defence minister sets his sights on fighter jets

Ukraine’s Defense Minister said that while the main battle tanks supplied by the allies are now on the way, the country’s next hope is to secure military aircraft that could be a “game changer” in the war against Russia.

In the interview Rosemary Barton Live broadcast Sunday, Oleksii Reznikov said that he had written a “wish list for Santa” and on the list “keep fighter jets, fighter jets, airplanes and maybe rockets … the commanders.”

Reznikov told CBC political correspondent Rosemary Barton that he hoped two weeks of recent talks with European and North American allies over military aircraft would lead to a commitment. He noted that as the war has progressed, military equipment that was previously denied to Ukraine has begun to flow, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, as well as long-range artillery and air defense systems.

“For me, everything is impossible now [will be] maybe tomorrow,” he said.

Speaking earlier this week, German defense minister Boris Pistorius “ruled out” sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost a year. Since Russia first launched a full-scale invasion in February, Ukraine has repelled major offensives and regained lost territory, but significant parts of the country’s south and east remain occupied and fighting is still intense.

Reznikov said the generals told him the military situation in the east was “difficult but under control.”

Negotiations in the bloc of countries that support Ukraine have focused in recent weeks on the question of whether to supply modern battle tanks to the defeated country. Poland, Britain and the United States have all pledged vehicles, and Germany this week agreed to do the same under intense pressure.

A day later, Canada announced it would send four of its own tanks, Leopard 2s, to Ukraine.

“These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate more of its territory and defend its people from a brutal Russian invasion. These four tanks are combat-ready and will be deployed in the coming weeks,” Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Thursday.

Reznikov said the promise of tanks “is not the end of the story, just the beginning of the story.”

He acknowledged that it would take time to get the tanks and train crews up and running, but hoped to be ready for the spring campaign, setting a target of March.

Russia has condemned the increase in arms shipments to Ukraine as an escalation of the conflict, while continuing to mobilize and train hundreds of thousands of new troops.

Concerns about wartime profiteering

Reznikov has faced criticism domestically over concerns that officials in the defense department have profited from war-related contracts. Ukraine’s deputy defense minister resigned on Tuesday, and his deputy infrastructure minister came under fire in a separate scandal.

Reznikov said he was not aware of the contract, which allegedly bought rations at inflated prices, and had no effect on the troops.

But he admitted that the country must strike a balance between war secrecy and that Ukraine must move to a more transparent system and “European standards” of anti-corruption practices, before the end of the war.

Asked when the war might end, Reznikov said he remained optimistic.

“I hope this year will be a year of victory,” he said, but acknowledged that things had to be done before then.

“We want it [have victory] as soon as possible. Ukrainians want it. But we’ll see.”