The decision to transfer several Polish MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine has been finalized, with only technical details remaining to be worked out, former Polish Minister of National Defense Janusz Onyszkiewicz told Ukrinform.
"The decision on the transfer has already been made, only technical issues remain," Onyszkiewicz stated, adding that the aircraft handover could take place as early as February.
The timeline hinges on parallel negotiations between Kyiv and Warsaw over technology sharing. Ukraine is currently in discussions with Poland about transferring production technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.
"Negotiations are currently underway on the transfer of certain information on the production of drones and missiles from Ukraine to Poland," Onyszkiewicz explained. He indicated these consultations will likely continue until the end of January.
Warsaw is preparing to transfer between six and eight MiG-29 aircraft that were scheduled for decommissioning by the Polish Armed Forces by the end of 2025. Beyond the fighter jets, Poland is also assembling another military aid package that includes spare parts for military equipment, according to Onyszkiewicz.
The MiG-29 transfer addresses a specific operational need for Ukraine. During his visit to Warsaw in December, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian pilots are already trained on these aircraft and would not require retraining. He clarified that Ukraine "had never put pressure on Poland in this matter," reports Ukrinform.
The aircraft deal is part of Poland's substantial military support for Ukraine. Last August, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski discussed implementation of the 47th, 48th, and 49th packages of military assistance from Poland to Ukraine.
To date, Poland has provided more than $4.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
