Speaking to Radio Zet, Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said Kyiv had returned to talks with a specific offer detailing the types of drones it could provide in exchange for the jets. She said the proposal has been on the table for several days and would now be reviewed by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who is expected to decide within the coming weeks.
Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said the arrangement under discussion is a straight swap — Poland sending MiG-29s in return for drones — rather than one in which Poland pays to overhaul the jets beforehand.
She said Poland would still be willing to help with repairs if Ukraine requested them, but only at Ukraine's expense, declining to give a cost estimate. She said a scenario in which Poland foots the repair bill is "not currently under discussion".
The comments came after she was asked why Poland has not sold MiG-29s to Bulgaria despite Sofia's interest, which she said was linked to Poland's prior commitments in talks with Ukraine.
Poland's air force has operated the Soviet-era MiG-29s since 1989 and is phasing them out as their operational lifespan ends, though the jets remain in active service. More than a dozen have already been transferred to Ukraine in previous years, with defense officials announcing plans late last year to send additional aircraft.
In exchange, Poland would gain access to drone technology that Ukraine has developed and tested in combat against Russia's invasion. Poland's state-owned defense group PGZ signed a letter of intent in late June with Ukrainian manufacturer TAF Industries on joint drone production, part of broader cooperation planned under the EU's SAFE financing mechanism.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said in mid-July that Poland was open to helping modernize the jets if Ukraine requested it, but that the costs would have to be borne by Ukraine or allied nations.
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Source: PAP