The UK is prepared to lend state-of-the-art jets to NATO allies who provide older Russian and Soviet planes to Ukraine, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said today.
The government is under pressure to provide Typhoons to help in the battle against Vladimir Putin's invaders, with Boris Johnson among those clamouring for the move.
But the government has argued that Ukraine lacks pilots trained to use the specialist equipment - and it would require hundreds of RAF personnel to be "gifted" to Kyiv.
The Defence Secretary has said, however, that the government is prepared to offer the jets to countries who provide Russian or Soviet planes to Ukraine as "backfill".
Speaking on the first anniversary of Putin's bloody invasion of Russia's neighbour, Mr Wallace told Sky News that around 200 RAF crew members would need to accompany Typhoon jets.
He said: "What we have to do when we gift anything is to make sure that we gift the training alongside it.
"For example gifting a fighter jet comes with thousands of people - engineers, pilots, training - the more complicated the platforms the greater the tail.
"The West is not going to be putting troops into Ukraine in those scales - if you put Typhoons in you'd have to send 200 RAF people and we're not going to do that, we've said that quite clearly.
"But what we have offered if that if a country wants to gift a Russian or a Soviet model like a MiG 29 - and there are some countries in NATO who have them - then Britain will do its best to backfill with our own jets or indeed provide some form of air policing to cover their loss of capability."
Mr Wallace said the UK has been "quite clear" that it will not be providing Typhoons to Ukraine.
But spelling out the alternative he told Times Radio: "The other quick way that Ukraine can benefit from fighter jets is for those countries in Europe that have Russian Soviet fighter jets - MiG 29s or Su-24s - if they wish to donate we can use our fighter jets to backfill and provide security for them as a result.
"They are already configured to fight in a Nato way, where of course Ukraine isn't."
Mr Wallace said Russia has been forced to adopt a "meat-grinder approach" after its forces failed to make a breakthrough in Ukraine.
He said the Russian army was suffering "huge losses" on the battlefield for very little gain in territory.
"It will move effectively to a meat-grinder approach where it just keeps sacrificing its own soldiers for the vanity of the Kremlin
"That's why we see huge losses amongst the Russian army and only gains, where we see gains, in metres not miles."
Yesterday Mr Johnson reiterated his calls for planes to Ukraine, saying: "Now is the time to give President Zelensky the tools the Ukrainians need to finish the job.
"The last year has taught us that sooner or later, the West gives the Ukrainians what they need. And if that is the choice - sooner or later - let's make it sooner, for the sake of Ukraine and the world.
"A swift Ukrainian victory is the humane, compassionate and economically sensible outcome."
Labour leader Keir Starmer said that the country's support "is as firm and unstinting today as it was on that dark day one year ago".
The Labour leader met with Mr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital recently.
He said: "As we mark this solemn anniversary and look ahead to the coming months, we must do the same. Regardless of what other political disagreements we may have, we stand in lockstep with the Government on this issue.
"No-one should ever have to face the hardship and loss that the Ukrainian people have over the last year. Their fight for democracy, freedom and liberty in the face of tyranny is also our fight. Standing with our Nato allies, we will ensure Putin's defeat and Ukraine's victory."
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said the whole country would "stand in solidarity with Ukraine until they achieve victory".
