Poland will deliver up to nine of its ageing MiG fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kyiv defend itself against Russia, a deputy defense minister has told TVP World, APA reports.
In an exclusive interview for the On the Record program, Paweł Zalewski said: “The decision [of the government] has been made.”
Military commanders said in December that discussions were underway on a potential agreement that would see Poland receive Ukrainian-developed drone technologies in exchange for the Soviet-era MiGs.
Zalewski said: “We are waiting for the answer of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Discussions are ongoing... these are completely technical discussions.”
Pressed on whether Ukraine has agreed to accept Poland’s offer, Zalewski indicated that Kyiv is on board. “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 initial delivery would comprise “less than ten” planes.
In December, Cezary Tomczyk, another Polish deputy defense minister, said “six to eight” Soviet-era jets were coming to the end of their operational life in Poland’s military and could be transferred to Ukraine in a possible military tech swap deal.
While Warsaw has already supplied tanks, artillery and ammunition to Ukraine, the transfer of fighter aircraft marks a new area of military assistance.
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