Poland refuses MiG-29 transfer to Ukraine after drone tech dispute
MiG-29 fighter jet (Photo: Getty Images)
Poland will not transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine because Kyiv refused to share drone production technologies, states Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, Warsaw offered Kyiv a partnership approach, which involved the transfer of aircraft in exchange for access to Ukrainian technologies and experience in the field of drones.
"I proposed, as it seems to me, a very partnership-based approach. MiGs in exchange for drones. The Ukrainians initially agreed, but they did not fulfill this agreement, so there will be no MiGs for Ukraine, since Poland has neither drones nor the capabilities to use them," Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.
The minister noted that Ukraine has significant capabilities in unmanned technologies and could share some of its developments with Poland in exchange for military assistance.
In his opinion, cooperation in the field of drones could become an important element of bilateral military partnership and a manifestation of mutual solidarity between the countries.
"Ukraine has such significant capabilities in the field of drones that, in return for the military equipment provided to it, it could share know-how with Poland and partially grant access to technologies," emphasized the head of the Polish defense ministry.
At the same time, Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the current Polish government is more firmly defending national interests in its relations with Ukraine than the previous authorities did, while continuing to adhere to the principle of solidarity.
At the same time, the minister does not consider the decision of the former Polish leadership to transfer weapons to Ukraine in the first months of the full-scale Russian invasion without any prior conditions to be a mistake.
"They did the right thing; moreover, I would have done the same. Ukraine was in a much more difficult situation then," he said.
What is known about the transfer of MiG-29s
In July 2024, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Warsaw, Ukraine and Poland signed a bilateral security agreement.
The document provided for the consideration of the possibility of transferring a squadron of Polish MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, at least 14 aircraft.
It was envisaged that the delivery would become possible after the Polish Air Force received new American F-35 fighter jets, which are to replace the Soviet-made aircraft.
At the end of 2025, the Polish authorities were working on another package of military aid for Ukraine, which was planned to include armored vehicles and MiG-29s.
However, on June 15, 2026, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced the suspension of the transfer of aircraft.
According to him, the reason was Ukraine's reluctance to provide access to its own military technologies in the field of drones and counter-drone measures.
