FIGHTER jets may be sent to Ukraine from Nato member states, the White House has confirmed, in what has been described as “the most provocative escalation of the proxy war” against Russia. 

National Security Council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said on Friday that the Pentagon was discussing “providing fighter aircraft to the Ukrainians.”

It marks a major reversal in policy after President Joe Biden warned against a similar proposal for Poland to send Soviet-made MiG fighters to Ukraine in May, which the Pentagon labelled as “high risk.” 

“The idea that we’re going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews — just understand, don’t kid yourself, no matter what y’all say, that’s called World War III,” he said at the time. 

But according to the Wall Street Journal “F-15 and F-16 fighter jets have been discussed as options for Ukraine” although the aircraft would require significant training and maintenance. 

The White House also announced a further $270 million (£225m) in arms will be sent to Ukraine, the 16th such package since February. 

The new shipment includes four extra HIMARS missile weapons systems and hundreds of Phoenix Ghost “kamikaze” drones.