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| Poland Delivers 10 MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine |
Kiev - Ukraine's hopes of getting supplies in the air sector have come true. Poland has delivered "almost all" MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. This was stated by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, Wednesday (17/5/2023). "We are at the forefront of countries, after the United States (US) and Britain, in terms of arms transfers to Ukraine," Duda told reporters in Iceland's capital Reykjavik, where the European Council summit is taking place.
Previously, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said last week that Poland was ready to hand over 10 MiG-29 fighter planes to Ukraine.
In April, Poland and Slovakia became the first Western countries to announce delivery of 41 MiG-29s to Ukraine. Slovakia has delivered 13 aircraft, including four in operational condition. Some of these aircraft will reportedly be used for spare parts. The planes were used by the Ukrainian air force before the start of the conflict.
No decision has been made on providing Ukraine with modern Western jets such as the F-16, Gripen, or F/A-18 Hornet. Poland planned to transfer the MiG-29s to Ukraine at the start of the war, with Warsaw suggesting handing over the aircraft to the US or NATO, which would then make the decision to transfer them to Ukraine. The fighters served in the former East Germany during the Cold War and were inherited by the Bundeswehr - Germany's armed forces.
In 2002, Germany sold it to Poland. In April, Germany accepted a Polish request to provide Ukraine with five Soviet-made combat aircraft. Poland plans to replace the aircraft with the purchase of 48 South Korean FA-50s and 32 US-produced F-35A Lightning II.