Polish ambassador to Ukraine: Transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine is entirely possible; negotiations are ongoing
The head of Poland's diplomatic mission in Ukraine, Piotr Łukasiewicz, made an important statement regarding the possibility of supplying the Ukrainian army with Soviet MiG-29 fighters. According to him, active negotiations are currently underway between the countries on this issue, and the prospects for their implementation are quite realistic. In an interview with "European Pravda," Łukasiewicz noted that the issue of transferring MiG-29s is on the agenda and primarily depends on the Ukrainian side. At the same time, he emphasized that Kyiv is actively working on mastering new types of Western weaponry, such as F-16 fighter jets and Swedish Gripens, and this process is happening quite rapidly. "As for the MiG-29, the Polish side is gradually reducing its number of these aircraft in service, replacing them with more modern equipment—F-16s. The transfer of these fighters to Ukraine is entirely possible, and negotiations in this direction are already ongoing. This is a very delicate matter and requires careful coordination with all parties," Łukasiewicz stressed. The background of this issue indicates a deep diplomatic and military discussion between the countries. Last fall, Ukrainian officials repeatedly called on Warsaw to transfer remaining Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters from the Polish arsenal. However, the official Warsaw at that time explained its position by stating that such a transfer could weaken its own defense capability during this challenging period. On the other hand, in March 2025, Polish President Andrzej Duda openly stated that the country might consider transferring MiG-29s to Ukraine, provided it receives adequate replacement equipment from allies. This sparked further discussions about possible scenarios of military support and tactical agreements within the Western coalition. Overall, diplomatic sources indicate that the process of transferring MiG-29s to Ukraine is complex and requires coordination between countries, but the trend towards strengthening military assistance to Kyiv is growing. Poland, which has already become an active partner in supporting Ukraine on its path toward acquiring modern defense technology, sees this step as a new stage in enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities and further integrating into the Western defense space. Therefore, in the near future, further negotiations and possible decisions regarding the supply of Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine can be expected, marking another step in the process of strengthening Ukrainian defense in the face of contemporary geopolitical challenges.