Ukraine wants more than MiG-29s from Poland, report reveals
Polish MiG-29 fighter jet (photo: facebook.com/UkrainianLandForces)
Ukraine-Poland talks over the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets have turned out to be broader than previously reported. In addition to the aircraft, Kyiv is also seeking extra equipment needed to maintain them, according to the Militarnyi news website, citing the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The ministry said negotiations between Ukraine and Poland on the possible transfer of aviation equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ongoing. The statement confirms remarks by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz that dialogue between the two countries has resumed.
At the same time, Ukraine is interested in more than just the fighter jets. Kyiv is also seeking additional maintenance equipment and technical hardware for servicing the aircraft, as well as repair and maintenance documentation.
For its part, Poland has expressed interest in several types of Ukrainian unmanned systems. Those could become part of a broader agreement on the aircraft transfer.
Aircraft already inspected by Ukrainian military
The Defense Ministry confirmed that representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted a technical inspection of some of Poland's MiG-29 fighter jets in the fall of 2025.
According to Polish outlet Onet, Ukrainian specialists inspected 14 fighter jets. Following the assessment, they concluded that the aircraft were in poor technical condition and would require repairs before commissioning.
The greatest concerns involved the condition of the landing gear and the effects of prolonged inadequate maintenance.
Why talks reached deadlock
Ukraine was prepared to accept the Polish MiG-29s if they underwent a full overhaul and modernization at Poland's WZL-2 aircraft maintenance facility in Bydgoszcz. However, Kyiv expected Poland to cover those costs.
That condition was unacceptable for Poland's Ministry of National Defense, as upgrading the Soviet-era fighter jets would require additional funding that had not been included in the government's approved political decisions. As a result, the negotiations effectively stalled at the time.
MiG-29s for Ukraine
Ukraine-Poland talks over the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets have been underway for quite some time. One option under discussion is exchanging the aircraft for Ukrainian drone technologies.
Earlier this month, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that Warsaw had received an official request from Kyiv and that negotiations were continuing. According to him, the Polish side believes there is a chance of reaching a positive outcome.
At the same time, media reports suggested that Poland had considered retiring its MiG-29 fleet instead of transferring the aircraft to Ukraine. The reported reason was disagreement over the terms of the exchange and funding for the modernization of the aircraft.
Notable that Poland suspended the process of transferring its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets back in June. At the time, Polish authorities said the decision was made while awaiting the resolution of certain technical and political issues with Kyiv.
