Topline
Polish President Andrzej Duda announced Thursday that his country will give four fighter jets to Ukraine, according to multiple reports, marking the first warplane delivery from a NATO member to Ukraine despite concerns of potentially escalating the war with Russia.
Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets of the Polish Air Force take part in a NATO shielding exercise at the … [+]
Key Facts
Duda said at a news conference Poland will send four MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine “in the next few days,” following pleas from Kyiv for help reinforcing its decimated air force, according to the New York Times.
The Soviet-designed MiGs are less advanced than the American-made F-16s Ukraine has requested, though Ukrainian forces would need additional training to operate the American aircraft, and the Biden Administration has said the F-16s are not an immediate need for Ukraine.
Ukraine entered the war with about 50 MiG fighter jets, but Russian missiles have downed at least 18 of the planes.
Ukraine’s MiGs have been supplied with American-made AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, which are capable of taking out Russian air-defense radars from a distance of 50 miles or more.
Crucial Quote
“We will keep the Russian front from our borders at all times,” Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
What To Watch For
Poland’s decision could spur other NATO members to send fighter jets to Ukraine. Slovakian defense minister Jaroslav Nad suggested last week Slovakia and Poland could act in concert “in handing over the surplus MiG-29s of both countries.” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also said Tuesday that Poland is considering supplying Ukraine with F-16s in the future.
News Peg
The announcement came just days after a Russian jet downed an American drone in a collision over the Black Sea. Russian officials have blasted the presence of American drones in the area as “a provocation,” while the U.S. government determined the decision to send a fighter jet after the drone came from the “highest levels of the Kremlin,” according to NBC News.
Key Background
Pressure has grown on Western countries—and the U.S. in particular—to provide greater aid to Ukraine’s air force. A bipartisan group of eight senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday saying it’s time for the U.S. to “take a hard look at providing F-16 aircraft to Ukraine,” which they said would be “a game changer on the battlefield.” Poland has been open to supplying Ukraine with fighter jets since shortly after the start of the war, at one point offering to transfer MiG-29s to Ukraine if the United States gives Poland more modern F-16s in exchange, an idea the Pentagon rejected due to concerns about escalation. Ukrainian and Russian forces have been locked in fierce fighting for months in eastern Ukraine, with little gains being made on either side. The most intense fighting has been centered in the city of Bakhmut, which Ukraine considers critical to maintain for a forthcoming spring offensive, while Russians aim to use it as a stepping stone to capture larger cities in eastern Ukraine.
Further Reading
Are Slovakia And Poland Finally Serious About Giving Ukraine Their Old MiG-29s? (Forbes)
Ukrainian Jets Are Firing American Anti-Radar Missiles (Forbes)
Watch: Footage Shows Moment Russian Jet Collided With U.S. Drone Over Black Sea (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/16/poland-sending-4-fighter-jets-to-ukraine-a-first-for-nato/