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Poland Withholds MiG-29 Jets After Ukraine Declines Drone Tech Share, Defense Minister Says
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Poland will not transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine after Kyiv declined to share drone production technology, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said, according to Polsat News on June 29.
According to the Polish defense minister, Warsaw had proposed what he described as a “partner-based approach,” involving the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone technologies and operational expertise.
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“I proposed what I believe was a very partnership-based approach. MiGs in exchange for drones. The Ukrainians initially agreed but did not fulfil the arrangement, therefore there will be no MiGs for Ukraine, because Poland has neither drones nor the capacity to use them,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
He noted that Ukraine possesses significant capabilities in the field of unmanned systems and could have shared part of its technological expertise in return for military assistance.
“They have the capacity to provide military equipment, which is sometimes symbolic but very important, and to share their know-how and part of their technologies. They are truly highly experienced in this field. And they agreed to this and stepped back from these arrangements,” the Polish defense minister added.
The Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the Polish defense minister’s statement.
In December 2025, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has confirmed that Poland is prepared to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in exchange for alternative technological capabilities.
Nawrocki said the decision aligns with Poland’s policy framework and will be finalized once certain formalities are resolved.
“After the unnecessary and unclear public uproar surrounding this issue—unfortunately, public opinion has been somewhat misinformed about this matter—we are seeking a symmetrical strategic partnership. This exchange of MiGs for anti-drone systems does not contradict our policy,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine requires MiG-29 aircraft because its pilots are already trained to operate them. He added that transitioning to F-16 fighters requires lengthy retraining, temporarily reducing combat readiness, whereas MiG-29s would allow Ukraine to maintain operational air capabilities more immediately.
Nawrocki also pointed out that the issue of transferring MiG-29 aircraft does not formally fall within his direct jurisdiction.
The discussion on military support was accompanied by broader political tensions. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his Polish counterpart Karol Nawrocki is adopting an approach similar to that of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which he characterised as an attempt to exert pressure on Ukra@ine.
Commenting on Nawrocki’s decision to revoke his Order of the White Eagle, Zelenskyy linked the move to Poland’s upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2027. He suggested that the Polish president may be seeking to strengthen political support ahead of the vote by “fostering hostility toward Ukrainians.”
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