Warsaw: Two MiG-29s and €50M Package to Kyiv

Approximately €50 million in military aid will move from Poland to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The package includes two MiG-29 fighter jets and a specific inventory of ammunition. Dariusz Łukowski, Director of the Strategy and Defence Planning Department at the Polish Ministry of National Defence, confirmed the timeline in a statement to Polish media outlet Rzeczpospolita. He stated that the decision is final and the transfer will occur in the near future.

The aid package is not limited to the aircraft. Rzeczpospolita reports the shipment will contain 155mm and 152mm artillery shells. It will also include 20 rounds of 102mm ammunition designed for the six-barrelled cannons on F-16 fighter jets. Missiles for Piorun man-portable air defense systems are also part of the list. The ministry declined to reveal further details, citing confidentiality.

Łukowski addressed the condition of the fighters directly. He acknowledged that one of the MiG-29s has reached the end of its service life. The second aircraft remains airworthy. The Polish Ministry of National Defence explained that the support is determined by safety considerations for the Polish state and the resources of the armed forces. The chief of the General Staff established these parameters. The ministry noted that the equipment consists of items the Polish Armed Forces are decommissioning. These assets will no longer be used by the Polish military but may still be useful in Ukraine.

This transfer resolves a months-long negotiation process. In August, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, said dialogue regarding the transfer of four MiG-29s was continuing but faced obstacles. The number in the current package is two, not four. Earlier in late June, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Ukraine had withdrawn from a proposed agreement known as "MiGs for drones." He claimed the decision was driven by the historical dispute between Kyiv and Warsaw. A few days later, he spoke of progress in implementing the agreement despite that initial withdrawal.

Kosiniak-Kamysz later stated that Bulgaria wished to buy the Polish MiG-29 jets that Ukraine had shown interest in. He said Warsaw was not ruling out attempts to reach an agreement with Kyiv. The current confirmation by Łukowski indicates that Warsaw has moved forward with the transfer of the two aircraft regardless of the earlier diplomatic friction. The ministry emphasized that the scope of support is strictly limited to what is safe for Poland and available within its armed forces.