Poland sending fighter jets to Ukraine

OAN Roy Francis
UPDATED 12:18 PM PT – Thursday, March 16, 2023

Andrzej Duda, Polish president, has announced that his country will send four MiG-29 fighter planes to Ukraine. This makes Poland the first NATO member to do so.

“When it comes to the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still operating in the defense of Polish airspace, a decision has been taken at the highest levels, we can say confidently that we are sending MiGs to Ukraine,” Duda stated.

For months, Ukraine has requested warplanes from NATO countries in order to combat and deter Russian forces. However, this request has been repeatedly rejected. Poland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine’s war against Russia for many years and has led the effort to persuade allies to offer further assistance.

Duda stated that Poland will send warplanes to the upcoming NATO summit. “next few days” Ukraine. Another NATO country, Slovakia, said they were likely to send planes from Slovakia to Ukraine within the next few weeks.

The United States has repeatedly denied requests by Ukraine to purchase F-16 fighter aircraft. The U.S. argued that training Ukrainian pilots in the operation of the planes would take too much time. The U.S. turned down requests for maintenance and logistics of warplanes, as well as other reasons.

NPR previously reported that Oleskii Raznikov, Ukrainian Defense Minister has stated to NPR that he believes Ukraine will receive Western fighter jets as part of its efforts against Russia.

Poland currently has 28 MiG-29s. However, they are slowly being replaced by more advanced U.S-made planes. It hopes to eventually be able to buy the cutting-edge F-35s.

Ukraine has flown the MiG-29s for many years, and its pilots are now able to fly them immediately after their arrival from Poland.

U.S., NATO and other nations have offered increasing support and weapons to Ukraine. Ukraine has received advanced rockets, such as HIMARs, and heavy tanks in recent months.

Olaf Sholz, the German Chancellor, had made it clear that 14 Leopard 2 tanks would be provided to Ukraine in January. Biden pledged 31 M1 Abrams tanks for Ukraine just days after Germany announced their intentions. This was a change from the long-standing policy of not sending highly advanced heavy vehicles over.

As the battle for Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine unfolds, the U.S. is also sending more artillery rounds to Ukraine.

John Kirby is an American official on U.S. National Security Council. He stated that Poland’s decision not to send fighter jets into Ukraine is unacceptable. “sovereign decision” This won’t change President Bidens position regarding sending F-16s to Ukraine.

“It doesn’t change our calculus with respect to F-16s. These are sovereign decisions for any country to make and we respect those sovereign decisions,” He said. “They get to determine not only what they’re going to give but how they’re going to characterize it.”

Kirby declined, however, to support the Polish President’s decision.

“I wouldn’t think it’s our place to characterize Poland’s decision one way or another,” He said.

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