Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced that he will send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. This announcement marks Poland as the first NATO nation to send fighter jets to the war-torn country.
Duda stated, “When it comes to the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still operating in the defense of Polish airspace, a decision has been taken at the highest levels, we can say confidently that we are sending MiGs to Ukraine.”
❗️ Polish President Andrzej Duda confirmed that #Poland will send the first four MIG-29 fighter jets to #Ukraine in the coming days. The Polish president said this at a press conference with #Czech President Petr Pavel today in #Warsaw. pic.twitter.com/Q5atCPdW53
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 16, 2023
For months now, Ukraine has been requesting warplanes from NATO to fight against Russian forces and has been met with rejection multiple times.
It is known that Poland serves as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in the war against Russia, even encouraging allies to provide additional aid.
The Polish President declared that the warplanes will be sent to Ukraine within the “next few days”. This move by Poland has influenced NATO nation Slovakia to also sending planes in the coming weeks.
President Joe Biden has continued to deny fighter jets to Ukraine, despite multiple requests due to the claim that training Ukrainian pilots on how to operate the planes would take too long.
However, in recent months, Ukraine has received other forms of support from NATO nations like HIMARs, advanced heavy tanks and artillery shells.
U.S. National Security Council official John Kirby released a statement in reaction to Poland’s move:
“It doesn’t change our calculus with respect to F-16s. These are sovereign decisions for any country to make and we respect those sovereign decisions,” he said. “They get to determine not only what they’re going to give but how they’re going to characterize it.”
Kirby has declined endorsing Poland’s decision, stating, “I wouldn’t think it’s our place to characterize Poland’s decision one way or another.”
