• Friday, 22 November 2024

Slovakia says ready to deliver MiG-29s to Ukraine with Poland

Slovakia says ready to deliver MiG-29s to Ukraine with Poland

Slovakia, together with Poland, intends to provide Ukraine with Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets, Slovakian Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

 

"I confirm that Poland has officially agreed that we will jointly supply MiGs to Ukraine," Nad posted on Facebook, saying the pact was made in Stockholm this week during a meeting of EU defence ministers.

 

Nad did not offer a timetable as to when the jets would be turned over.

 

Polish President Andrzej Duda has in the past declared his country's readiness to provide the MiG-29s in principle.

 

The Slovakian defence minister urged haste in handing over the jets: "People in Ukraine are dying. We can actually help them. Therefore, there is no more room for politicking. This is inhumane and irresponsible."

 

Slovakia took its last MiG-29s out of service last year. The reason given was that the aircraft were obsolete and could only be maintained by technicians from "hostile Russia."

 

Slovakia could hand over 10 operational aircraft to Ukraine, according to the defence minister.

 

Poland has about 30 MiG-29 aircraft in service.