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Poland may send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine in 4-6 weeks: PM

15.03.2023 08:00
The Polish prime minister has said his country could transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in the next four to six weeks to help Kyiv fight Russia's invasion.
Audio
A Polish MiG-29 fighter jet.
A Polish MiG-29 fighter jet. PAP/Adam Warżawa

Mateusz Morawiecki made the statement at a news conference on Tuesday, news agencies reported. 

Asked about President Andrzej Duda’s declaration last week that Poland was prepared to provide its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of an international coalition, Morawiecki said: "That could happen in the next four to six weeks."

The Polish president told US broadcaster CNN last Thursday that his country was ready to provide MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. He added he was "sure that Ukraine would be ready to use those planes instantly."

Poland persuades European allies to donate heavy weapons to Ukraine

Poland’s commitment to helping its neighbour has been important in persuading European allies to donate heavy weapons to Ukraine, including battle tanks, a move until recently opposed by several governments, including Germany, the Reuters news agency reported.

Poland has sent 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.

Following Duda’s declaration, his top aide Paweł Szrot told reporters last week that the number of MiG-29 planes Poland might supply to Ukraine would "certainly not be as many as 14."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said that there was “complete agreement” between the president and the government on the issue of providing the MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. 

Last Thursday, Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said his Polish counterpart had told him at a European Union meeting the previous day that Poland would agree to “a joint process to hand over MiG-29 jets to Ukraine.”

Nad said that "the time has come also for Slovakia" to make a decision on whether or not to provide jets to Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.

Wednesday is day 385 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. 

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, Reuters

Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.