Poland approves decision to hand over up to nine MiG fighter jets to Ukraine

15 January, 16:43

Stock Photo: Getty Images

Poland will hand over up to nine of its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, although technical talks on the matter are still ongoing.

Source: Polish TV channel TVP World, citing Polish Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski

Details: Zalewski said that the government decision to hand over the aircraft has already been taken.

"We are waiting for the answer from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. Discussions are ongoing... these are completely technical discussions," he noted.

When asked whether Ukraine had agreed to accept Poland's offer, Zalewski said that Kyiv was in agreement.

"I believe... Ukrainians made the decision to accept this offer. Of course, there are some technical aspects which shall be clarified, as always," he added.

Zalewski said the first batch would consist of fewer than ten aircraft.

Background:

In December, another Polish Deputy Defence Minister, Cezary Tomczyk, said that "six to eight" Soviet-era aircraft were nearing the end of their service life in the Polish Armed Forces and could be delivered to Ukraine as part of a possible military technology exchange deal.
Warsaw has stated that it is ready to hand over MiG-29 fighter jets in exchange for access to certain missile and drone technologies.
Poland's General Staff has said that the potential transfer of these fighters to Ukraine is linked to the fact that they have reached the end of their service life and have no prospects for further modernisation within the Polish Armed Forces.
Last autumn, the Ukrainian side repeatedly urged Poland to hand over Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets, but Warsaw explained at the time that it could not do so without weakening its own defence capabilities.

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