Poland ready to give Ukraine MiG-29 jets in exchange for drones and tech
Photo: Poland will provide old MiG-29s (facebook.com/UkrainianLandForces)
Poland and Ukraine are finalizing an agreement to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Kyiv. In exchange, Warsaw is set to receive Ukrainian drones as well as technological know-how, according to Wiadomosci.
Negotiations regarding the transfer of MiG-29s in exchange for drone know-how and a significant number of unmanned aerial vehicles of various types are in their final stages.
The Polish fighter jets are expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. At the same time, Ukrainian drones are set to be delivered to Poland.
The Polish Ministry of Defense notes that negotiations have intensified following the appointment of Rustem Umerov as head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
That said, Poland remains cautious about the future agreement. One of the agency's sources states that while an agreement can be reached with Kyiv and signed, the question of its implementation remains.
Patriot missiles—still up in the air
Separately, Poland has not yet confirmed the transfer of missiles for the Patriot systems to Ukraine. Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka stated that such a decision is made at the highest level.
For his part, Janusz Sejmej, head of the Defense Minister's political cabinet, stated that Ukraine has not yet sent any official request or inquiry to Poland on this matter.
According to unofficial information from Polish sources, even if Warsaw agrees to transfer ammunition, the quantity will be small. Currently, the Polish army has about 200 PAC-3 MSE missiles, and it can transfer at most a few of these units to Ukraine.
Background
The issue of transferring MiG-29s to Ukraine has previously been a subject of dispute between Kyiv and Warsaw. The Polish side stated that it expected Ukrainian drone technology in return, but the preliminary agreement was not implemented.
In July, Poland once again expressed its willingness to revisit the issue of transferring fighter jets, while Ukraine was simultaneously discussing the possibility of receiving not only the aircraft but also the equipment needed to maintain them and the relevant documentation in exchange for Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems.
