Ukraine conflict: Poland agrees to the immediate transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine, urges other NATO operators to do the same

Poland has agreed to the immediate transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29s to help the war effort in Ukraine. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Poland has agreed to the immediate transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' combat aircraft to help the war effort in Ukraine, and has urged other NATO operators of the same type to do the same.

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in a statement released on 8 March, reviving the seemingly moribund European Union (EU) plan of the week before to transfer to Kyiv the Soviet-era fighters that the Ukrainian Air Force is trained and equipped to fly.

“The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the president and the government, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MiG-29 jets to the [US Air Force's] Ramstein Air Base [in Germany], and place them at the disposal of the government of the United States of America,” the ministry said. “At the same time, Poland requests the United States to provide us with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately establish the conditions of purchase of the planes. The Polish government also requests other NATO allies – owners of MiG-29 jets – to act in the same vein.”