Give and take: Poland ready to send MiG-29s if Ukraine helps counter drone threat

Poland is ready to transfer its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine if needed, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday, underlining that any such move would take place within the framework of a reciprocal exchange focused on strengthening both countries’ security.

Speaking during his official visit to the Ukrainian capital, Tusk said the issue of MiG-29s had been discussed in detail with Zelenskyy, stressing that the aircraft are available and that Warsaw is prepared to act flexibly in line with Ukraine’s current military needs.

“When it comes to the MiG-29, we talked about it in detail. They are waiting, they are at our disposal,” Tusk said. “President Zelenskyy and I agreed that we will work flexibly and, if necessary, change our positions to work adequately to the needs – to the current needs.”

According to the Polish prime minister, Poland is ready to transfer the fighter jets immediately, but as part of a mutual exchange arrangement. In return, Warsaw expects cooperation with Ukraine in the field of drone technologies, which Tusk described as critical for building effective anti-drone defences.

From drones to bomb shelters: Poland beefs up security on its eastern frontier

“If MiGs are needed, Poland is ready to transfer them at this moment. We talked about a mutual exchange. Ukraine is ready for this,” he said. “We are talking about Ukrainian drones because we want to build effective anti-drone defence. And our cooperation with Ukraine is key here.”

Tusk noted, however, that Zelenskyy had made clear during their talks that air defence systems and missiles currently rank higher among Kyiv’s priorities than the delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets.

“Today I will not answer the question posed by President Zelenskyy whether it would be possible to transfer another type of equipment instead of MiGs,” Tusk said. “But immediately after returning to Poland I will talk to the Minister of National Defense. And no later than Monday I will let President Zelenskyy know what is possible.”

Beyond fighter aircraft, Poland is also preparing its next package of military assistance for Ukraine. Tusk said the 48th aid package, currently being finalised, will be worth around 200 million zlotys (around €46 million)and will mainly include armoured vehicles for Ukrainian forces.

“The 47th aid package was worth about 100 million zlotys (around €23 million). It was mainly 155-millimetre ammunition, which we have already transferred in large part,” he said. “We are completing the preparation of the 48th package. It will mostly contain armoured vehicles for the Ukrainian troops.”

In mid-January, Polish officials indicated that Warsaw could transfer up to nine Soviet-era MiG fighters to Ukraine, with technical details still under discussion. Earlier, Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that between six and eight MiG aircraft in Poland’s inventory are nearing the end of their service life and could be handed over to Ukraine as part of an exchange of military technologies.

Poland has already supplied Ukraine with tanks, artillery and ammunition, and the possible transfer of fighter jets would mark a further escalation of its military support.

Zelenskyy confirmed that defence cooperation between the two countries is also expanding into joint production. Speaking alongside Tusk, he said Ukraine and Poland are preparing to co-produce drones and other weapons.

“We are preparing to produce drones together, to co-produce with Poland. All this will happen – to produce drones and other weapons,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine’s battlefield experience has given it unique expertise in understanding which weapons are effective in modern warfare.

“It is precisely these weapons that we must produce together to protect our states, to protect Europe,” he said.

A significant part of the talks focused on joint defence programmes, Zelenskyy added, stressing that Ukraine expects Poland to continue participating in the PURL programme (the Polish-led PURL programme, aimed primarily at strengthening air defence and missile capabilities), which he described as a key instrument for strengthening air defence. He also said Kyiv is preparing to become a full participant in the SAFE programme (the EU’s SAFE programme for joint defence financing and procurement).

During the same visit, Tusk addressed reports of Russia’s new demands regarding the occupied Donbas as a condition for ending the war. Russian media have claimed that Moscow is seeking international recognition of Donbas as Russian territory.

Tusk rejected this outright, saying that not all countries involved in negotiations would accept such demands, signalling clearly that Poland does not recognise Donbas as Russian.

Finland steps up military aid to Ukraine

Separately, Finland has approved a new package of military assistance for Ukraine, its 32nd to date, worth approximately €43 million. The decision was endorsed by President Alexander Stubb at the government’s proposal, according to a statement from the Finnish Ministry of Defence.

The package will include domestically produced equipment purchased under Finland’s programme to support Ukraine. The total value of Finnish defence assistance to Ukraine has now reached €3.2 billion.

“Finland will continue to support Ukraine by providing defence materials as planned,” Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said, adding that Helsinki is also participating in several international coalitions aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s capabilities.

For operational reasons, Finnish authorities said no further details would be provided on the content or delivery of the assistance.

Sources: Suspilne, European Pravda

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) attend a press conference after their meeting at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, 05 February 2026. EPA/PAWEL SUPERNAK