Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on 29/6 that he had proposed a fair and mutually beneficial arrangement: exchanging MiG fighter jets for drone technology. "Ukraine initially agreed but later failed to honor its commitment, so they will not receive the MiGs," Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.

The Polish minister noted Ukraine's high level of expertise in drone technology, adding that sharing experience and technology should have been a key part of the solidarity and defense cooperation between the two nations.

"They should have shared their expertise and allowed access to some of that technology in return for the military equipment they have received," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

A Polish MiG-29 fighter jet during a NATO exercise in Lask in October 2022. Photo: AFP

The official stated that Poland's current government is defending national interests in its relationship with Ukraine more decisively than previous administrations, while still emphasizing the principle of solidarity. Kosiniak-Kamysz also did not believe that past governments made a mistake by unconditionally transferring military equipment to Kyiv during the initial phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"They did the right thing; I would have done the same. Ukraine was in a much more difficult situation then," the Polish Defense Minister noted.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the information.

Poland transferred 14 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in spring 2023. In 1/2026, the Polish government confirmed it had approved the provision of an additional 9 MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, as Warsaw gradually phases out the type to replace them with fighter jets like the F-35.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also stated in 4/2026 that Ukraine had agreed to share expertise to help Warsaw build a modern drone force.

However, Polish officials announced on 15/6 that the plan to supply MiG-29 fighter jets had been postponed because the two sides had not concluded negotiations on Kyiv's transfer of military technology to Warsaw.

Ukrainian military personnel deploying an interceptor drone in Kharkiv province on 26/6. Photo: AP

The MiG-29 is a 4th-generation light fighter jet developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and entered service in 1982. It has a maximum speed of 2,400 km/h, a service ceiling of 18 km, and a range of 1,430 km.

The basic MiG-29 model is equipped with a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon and can carry up to 3.5 tons of weapons, including R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, as well as various bombs and rockets.

Ukraine inherited 240 MiG-29 fighter jets from the Soviet Union and has also received numerous aircraft from NATO countries since the conflict began.

Oryx, a Netherlands-based open-source intelligence tracker, estimates that at least 36 Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft have been destroyed since the start of the conflict. The actual number may be higher, as Oryx only lists losses with visual verification. By 2025, the Ukrainian air force is projected to have 53 MiG-29 aircraft in service.

Pham Giang (According to Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, RBC Ukraine)