Kyiv clamors for fighter jets as war nears ‘critical’ phase

By LORNE COOK
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine is renewing its appeal to Western countries for fighter jets to help frustrate Moscow’s invasion. Senior defense officials from the United States and its NATO allies said Tuesday the war with Russia is approaching a critical stage. With the war set to enter its second year at the end of next week, the Ukraine contact group met at NATO headquarters in Brussels and Ukraine repeated that it is seeking fighter jets. Moscow’s forces have been pressing in the east of Ukraine while bolstering their defensive lines in the south. The war has been largely static during the winter months, though both sides are expected to launch offensives when the weather improves.