The Polish government agrees to hand over its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, but only when it receives new planes it previously ordered from allied nations.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosyniak-Kamysh reacted to the words of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with such a reaction, as quoted by Wiadomosci.
Delivery of Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine
According to him, Poland has previously transferred to Ukraine all stocks of military aid that could be provided. At the same time, the Polish government must also take into account its own security component in making decisions about arms supplies.
– I know that Ukraine needs many types of weapons, but our partners from Ukraine must also understand that the Polish state must preserve its capabilities. And this is a priority for me as the Minister of Defense, – he said.
Kosyniak-Kamysh said that Poland can transfer MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine only after the Polish Air Force receives new aircraft, namely modern F-35s, which official Warsaw previously ordered from the United States. It is expected that the first such batch of fighters may enter the Polish military no earlier than 2026, as pilots still need to be trained.
– Only after receiving the new aircraft will it be possible to dispose of the old ones, such as the MiG-29, which are currently still in use, in particular for the tasks of protecting the airspace of Poland. Then we will make a decision, – explained the Minister of Defense.
Before that, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that one of the most pressing issues in Ukraine’s relations with Poland is the supply of MiG-29s, which are in service with the Polish military. And despite constant attempts to persuade Warsaw to take this step, Poland still hasn’t made a decision.
In parallel with this, there is a discussion about the fact that the Polish military could shoot down enemy aerial objects over the territory of Ukraine, when the Russian army launches drones and missiles in the western regions of the country.
