Poland Questions Ukraine's Stance on MiG-29 Jets Amid Shifting Demands

Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defense, Cezary Tomczyk, has stated that Ukraine has not yet received Polish MiG-29 fighter jets because a deal for drone technology transfer, which Kyiv was expected to provide in return, has not been finalized. This statement follows remarks from another deputy minister, Paweł Zalewski, who suggested that Ukraine currently lacks interest in the MiGs.

Zalewski indicated that Ukraine might desire the MiGs to be upgraded for more modern combat conditions, but Poland is unwilling to bear the costs of such modifications. "Ukraine says they don't need them because they are obsolete," Zalewski told RMF FM on Tuesday.

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In wartime conditions, every piece of military equipment is needed; one would have to ask the Ukrainian authorities why the topic of MiGs first arises, and now they consider them unnecessary.

However, head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), Bartosz Grodecki, questioned Ukraine's changing position. Speaking in Orzysz on Wednesday, Grodecki emphasized that in wartime, "every piece of military equipment is needed." He recalled Poland's significant military aid to Ukraine in the early days of the Russian invasion, which helped Ukraine withstand the initial onslaught. "So, one would have to ask the Ukrainian authorities why the topic of MiGs first arises, and now they consider them unnecessary. I cannot answer that question," Grodecki stated.

The Polish Air Force has been phasing out its MiG-29s since 1989, replacing them with newer aircraft like the FA-50 and F-35. Late last year, the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff of the Polish Army announced plans to transfer the remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine. This announcement reportedly caused friction between the government and the president's office, with presidential representatives claiming they had not been informed. The ministry countered that the matter had been discussed in a national security committee attended by a presidential representative. Poland had expressed interest in leveraging Ukraine's expertise in drone and anti-drone systems in exchange.

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Ukraine says they don't need them because they are obsolete.