Kyiv Makes ‘Exact Proposal’ to Warsaw on MiG-29 Fighter Jets

Ukraine has presented Poland with an ‘exact proposal’ for the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets.

PAP reported the development, citing Polish Deputy Defence Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine has offered to share certain technologies with Poland as part of the proposal in exchange for the fighter jets.

She added that after reviewing the proposal, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will make the final decision.

According to the deputy minister, the review is not expected to take long and should be completed within a few weeks at most.

Asked whether Ukraine still wanted Poland to finance the refurbishment of the fighter jets, she said no.

However, she added that the Ukrainian side had expressed its readiness to assist with the aircraft’s subsequent modernization.

Asked whether the refurbishment would be funded by Ukraine, she replied: “If that is the will of the Ukrainian side.”

Commenting on the possibility of Poland financing the overhaul of the aircraft, the deputy defense minister said: “At this stage, we are not discussing such a scenario.”

On July 22, it was reported that Poland had received a request from an unnamed NATO country regarding the MiG-29 fighter jets that Warsaw plans to transfer to Ukraine.

Polish MiG-29s for Ukraine

Late last year, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence and the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces announced their intention to transfer some of the MiG-29 fighter jets still in service with the Polish Air Force to Ukraine.

Under the initial arrangement, Poland was to receive access to Ukrainian drone technologies – developed and combat-tested on the battlefield – in exchange for the aircraft.

At the time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the MiG-29s were important for Ukraine because Ukrainian pilots already had extensive experience operating the aircraft. According to him, “the issue is not a shortage of aircraft, but a shortage of pilots.”

In June, Poland said the transfer had not yet taken place because the issue of access to the promised technologies had not been resolved.

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said the fighter jets would be transferred once the issue is fully resolved. In July, the two sides resumed talks on the possible transfer of nine MiG-29s.

As previously reported, after inspecting the aircraft, the Ukrainian delegation was dissatisfied with their condition, noting that the jets would require refurbishment before they could be returned to service.

Due to the prolonged lack of proper maintenance, the MiG-29s were assessed as being in poor technical condition, with experts expressing particular concern over the aircraft’s landing gear.

Poland has said it is prepared to help modernize the MiG-29 fighter jets, but the costs of the project would have to be covered by Ukraine or its international partners.