Poland will provide 11-19 Soviet-origin MiG-29 fighter planes to Ukraine and Slovakia will provide 13
Poland has pledged to send 4 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, becoming the first North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Member to do so, followed by Slovakia being the second country to pledge 13 MiG fighter jets to Ukraine.
The President of Poland – Andrzej Duda said the 4 out of dozen planes, which they had inherited from the former German Democratic Republic, would be handed over to Ukraine in the coming days after being serviced.
Speaking on the occasion, Duda said, “When it comes to the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still operating in the defense of Polish airspace, a decision has been taken at the highest levels, we can say confidently that we are sending MiGs to Ukraine.”
Taking it to twitter, the Prime Minister of Slovak Republic – Eduard Heger tweeted,
I call @ZelenskyyUa about 🇸🇰 gov. decision to send 13 MiGs. We support brave people of #Ukraine who fight against #RussianAggression. They need tools to defend their homeland – without that there will be neither #peace nor #justice. I’ve accepted his invitation to visit 🇺🇦 soon. pic.twitter.com/ftsdBeYEmY
— Eduard Heger (@eduardheger) March 17, 2023
Thanking Slovakia, the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted,
Our Brussels agreements are working! During a phone call, I thanked 🇸🇰 Prime Minister @eduardheger for a powerful package of air & air defense weapons, including MiG aircraft. I appreciate his personal role in supporting Ukraine. I look forward to continuing our dialogue in Kyiv.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2023
The announcement that Poland and Slovakia will send the Soviet-designed planes marks a step beyond the rest of the alliance’s commitments and could put pressure on other Member States to do the same. Other NATO members have been refrained from sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
Poland had been one of the most vocal European nations against Russia, even before Russia invaded Ukraine. The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin has always been seen by Poland as untrustworthy and Russia expansion is something to be fought against at all costs. It is one of the few NATO countries that by law is required to meet its 2% of GDP defense spending commitment and is an active member of the European defense community.
However, what Ukraine really wants are United States (U.S.) made F-16 fighters. Besides, Russia has threatened to destroy any fighter jets given to Ukraine by its allies. Kremlin Spokesman – Dmitry Peskov condemned the plans by NATO countries and said that the aircrafts would not affect the outcome of Russia’s “special military operation” and will only bring additional woes for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
