Pentagon pushes back on Polish proposal to deliver MIG 29s to Ukraine via Germany

In a statement issued the day before, Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said the decision to transfer Polish-owned planes to Ukraine was "ultimately" for Warsaw to take.

Poland's proposal to put those jets at the disposal of the US government at a base in Germany and for them to then fly into contested airspace between Russia and Ukraine "raises serious concerns for the military alliance".

"It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it.

"We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one."

Poland was estimated to have roughly 29 one-seater and two-seater MIG 29s in its Air Force.