In Warsaw, they changed their minds about giving Kiev all their MiG-29 fighters, Pavel Yablonsky, the country’s deputy foreign minister, said in an interview with Polish radio RMF.
The aircraft handover procedure takes place in secret for greater efficiency. But I think we won’t give it our all
said the diplomat.
Earlier, Polish media wrote that Poland, as part of a coalition with Slovakia, will transfer to Kiev all MiG-31 fighters at the disposal of both countries. In Bratislava, the procedure for sending aircraft has already started, the first four parts have already been transferred to Ukraine. In total, Slovakia has 13 Soviet fighters, but some of them are not in working order and are likely to be used as spare parts donors.
Russian officials said Slovakia had seriously violated international rules on arms re-export by sending planes without the consent of the manufacturing country. This could seriously affect the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Bratislava.
Poland has 22 MiG-29A fighters and six MiG-29UB fighters. Unlike Slovakia, the Polish military regularly maintained and upgraded its aircraft. All fighters are in excellent technical condition. It is possible that the cancellation of the Polish leadership’s decision to transfer all Soviet fighters was influenced by the American decision to compensate the Slovaks for the MiGs sent to Ukraine. Instead of the desired F – 18 aircraft, the Pentagon offered Bratislava Bell AH – 1Z Viper helicopters. Poles dreaming of the most modern weapons are unlikely to be satisfied with such compensation.
Photos used: MKFI/wikimedia.org
