Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski said the Ukrainian side currently shows no interest in MiG-29 jets. The delay has two causes: first, Ukraine wants aircraft adapted to modern combat conditions, but Poland is not ready to cover those costs. Second, the transfer was planned as a mutual deal — negotiations are ongoing over cooperation on drone technologies. “These talks are not yet concluded,” Zalewski told RMF24. He sees “no serious problem” in this.
Zalewski also commented on the political climate between the two countries. Ukraine is not actively seeking Poland’s partnership, partly due to a dispute over the naming of a Polish special forces unit after UPA heroes. “Nawrocki believes that stirring up anti-Ukrainian sentiment is a good way to win votes. This harms Poland greatly,” the deputy minister criticized. At the same time, he denied that the delay in the MiG-29 transfer is a pressure tactic to force Ukraine to rename the unit.
On Monday, another Polish Deputy Defense Minister, Cezary Tomczyk, confirmed that negotiations over the planned MiG-29 transfer are ongoing. He also attributed the delay to the pending agreement on Ukrainian drone technologies. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mychajlo Fedorow announced in January a deepening of defense cooperation with Poland, including the modernization of MiG-29s.
Source: www.pravda.com.ua
