Slovakia will hand over 12 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine – media

The Slovak and German authorities have failed to agree on a circular agreement to supply Ukraine with T-72 tanks, but Bratislava is developing a plan to hand over MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine.

This was reported by Business Insider.

Bratislava withdrew from the planned deal, as Berlin offered Slovakia only 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks in exchange for supplying Kyiv with 30 Soviet T-72 tanks.

– The reality is that we cannot accept the form of support promised by the Czech Republic or other countries. They supply one piece of equipment to Ukraine and receive two pieces of equipment from Germany or another country instead. Slovakia has 30 T-72 tanks. Therefore, 15 Leopard battle tanks cannot be a solution for us, because we need 30 battle tanks for the tank battalion, – he said.

In this regard, said a spokesman for the Slovak Defense Ministry, Bratislava is in talks with allies to find additional forms of support for Ukraine to counter Russia’s senseless aggression.

The publication states that Slovakia has previously transferred to Ukraine weapons worth more than € 150 million, as well as its only S-300 complex. To ensure that Slovakia does not remain defenseless, Germany, Netherlands and the United States have deployed four Patriot missile systems in NATO.

Bratislava also agreed on a ring exchange with the transfer of Soviet MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, the newspaper notes. According to Visegrad 24, Slovakia plans to hand over 12 MiG-29 fighters to the Ukrainian Air Force.

According to Business Insider, the planes will be handed over after Poland and  Czech Republic agree to protect Slovakia’s airspace until the country receives its F-16s from the United States.

Sources: Business Insider, Visegrad 24

Photo: Visegrad 24