Ukraine is asking Poland for MiG-29s and related equipment
Ukraine and Poland are continuing negotiations regarding the possible transfer of Polish MiG-29 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. At the same time, Kyiv is interested not only in the aircraft themselves, but also in additional equipment for their maintenance and the necessary technical documentation.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Poland regarding the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets have turned out to be broader in scope than previously reported. Kyiv also wants to receive equipment that will allow for the maintenance of the aircraft, as well as repair documentation.
The ministry confirmed that dialogue with Poland regarding the possible transfer of aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces is ongoing. This is also consistent with a statement by Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz regarding the resumption of negotiations between the two countries. However, the discussion is not limited to the fighter jets themselves. The Ukrainian side is interested in obtaining additional equipment for the maintenance of aviation equipment, specialized equipment, and repair and operational documentation.
At the same time, Poland has its own interests in these negotiations. Warsaw is interested in Ukrainian drone technologies, which could become part of a potential agreement on the transfer of aircraft.
Ukrainian military personnel have already inspected the Polish aircraft
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that in the fall of 2025, representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted a technical inspection of a batch of Polish MiG-29s. According to the Polish publication Onet, Ukrainian specialists inspected 14 fighter jets. After the inspection, they concluded that the aircraft were in unsatisfactory technical condition and required repairs before they could be used.
The most significant concerns centered on the condition of the landing gear and the consequences of prolonged operation without proper maintenance. The technical condition of the aircraft was one of the main issues discussed during the negotiations.
Why the agreement failed previously
Ukraine was prepared to accept the Polish MiG-29s on the condition that the transfer take place after the aircraft underwent a major overhaul and modernization at the Polish WZL-2 plant in Bydgoszcz. At the same time, Kyiv expected the Polish side to cover the costs of this work.
For the Polish Ministry of National Defense, this condition proved difficult to meet. Modernizing the Soviet-era fighters required additional funding that had not been provided for in previous political decisions. As a result, the negotiation process effectively stalled. “The Ukrainian side is ready to accept the aircraft provided they are refurbished and prepared for further operation,” it was previously reported during discussions regarding the transfer of the MiG-29s.
MiG-29s for Ukraine
Negotiations between Kyiv and Warsaw regarding the Polish MiG-29s have been ongoing for several months now. One possible option for an agreement is an exchange of the fighter jets for Ukrainian drone technology.
For Ukraine, acquiring additional aircraft of this type is of great importance, as the MiG-29s are already in service with the Ukrainian Air Force and do not require a complete transition to a new pilot training and maintenance system. At the same time, the final terms of a potential transfer of the aircraft remain under negotiation between the two countries. This was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in response to an inquiry from the publication “Military.”
Poland is developing a new legal framework that will allow the state and the military to respond more quickly to potential military threats. The plan is to implement it even before martial law is officially declared.
