Poland may send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine in exchange for anti-drone systems
Photo: Polish President Karol Nawrocki (Getty Images)
Poland does not rule out exchanging MiG-29 fighter jets for Ukrainian anti-drone technology, says Polish President Karol Nawrocki at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Nawrocki, this issue has caused “an unnecessary and incomprehensible storm, and public opinion has been somewhat misinformed about this matter.”
“I will not go into these anymore, because this is not the place for it,” the Polish president continued.
He stressed that his duty is to protect the interests of Polish soldiers, in particular aviators from Malbork, an important airbase where MiG-29 fighter jets of the Polish Air Force are based.
Nawrocki noted that formally, the MiG-29s transfer does not fall within his competence. But in the current circumstances, Poland is seeking a symmetrical strategic partnership with Ukraine.
“This exchange of MiG-29s for anti-drone systems does not contradict our policy. So, once the formal issues have been resolved, I think it will be settled,” Nawrocki said.
Backstory
Poland was considering transferring six to eight MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, which are to be withdrawn from the Polish Air Force by the end of December.
On December 11, Karol Nawrocki stated that he was not aware of the transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine and was looking into the matter.
In exchange for a new batch of Soviet MiG-29 fighters, Ukraine will transfer to Poland the know-how technology of unmanned aerial vehicles, which have already proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.
According to Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine's ambassador to Poland, Ukrainian drones, among other things, will be delivered to Poland. He did not specify their number.
Poland has already transferred MiG-29s to Ukraine in previous years, becoming one of the first countries to make such decisions after the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
