Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Germany pledges a swift response to Poland’s request to send old MiG-29s to Ukraine – DW

A Polish air force MiG-29 fighter jet, Sept. 21, 2021. Illustrative photo: US Air Force/Edgar Grimaldo.

Poland has made a formal request to Germany for permission to send Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, which formerly belonged to East Germany as the German defense minister has pledged a swift response to Poland’s request, DW reports.

23 of East German’s MiGs were transferred to Poland in 2002, and Polish President Duda’s security adviser Jacek Siewiera said that a dozen of those jets were still in Poland.

The German government has confirmed receiving the request, which falls under its rules for weapons sales that require approval if they are to be sent to a third country. Poland has already sent eight jets to Ukraine, but the latest batch comes from old East German stocks.

On 13 April, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pledged to make a swift response to the Polish request, stating during a visit to Bundeswehr soldiers in Mali that the German government would likely reach a decision on approval.

While the MiG-29s may provide some relief to Ukraine, they are unlikely to satisfy its demands. Calls for Western fighter jets have increased since Germany and the US agreed to send Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks to Ukraine respectively. Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, Andriy Melnyk, has previously called for “a powerful fighter jet coalition for Ukraine,” comprising Western-made warplanes.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts