After more than a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland has become the first member of the anti-Russia NATO alliance to decide to give fighter jets to Kyiv.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on 16 March 2023 said that Warsaw would send 4 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine "within the next few days". The total number of jets to be supplied could range from 11 to 19.
Ever since the war began, Ukraine has been urging Western countries to send fighter jets so that it is able to defend its airspace.
On Wednesday, Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said some other countries also had pledged MiGs to Kyiv, but did not identify them. Both Poland and Slovakia had indicated they were ready to hand over their planes, but only as part of a wider international coalition doing the same.
The government in neighbouring NATO member Germany appeared caught off guard by Duda's announcement. "So far, everyone has agreed that it's not the time to send fighter jets," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters. "I don't have any confirmation from Poland yet that this has happened."
The White House called Poland's move a sovereign decision and lauded the Poles for continuing to "punch above their weight" in assisting Kyiv, but it stressed the move would have no bearing on President Joe Biden, who has resisted calls to provide U.S. F-16s to Ukraine.
(With agency inputs)
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