Deputy Defense Minister of Poland, Paweł Zalewski, stated in an interview with Radio ZET that an unidentified NATO member has requested the MiG-29 fighters that Poland previously planned to transfer to Ukraine. Despite the request, Zalewski emphasized that providing the aircraft to Kyiv remains a priority for the Polish government. He declined to confirm whether Bulgaria was the nation behind the inquiry.
According to Militarnyi, Poland and Bulgaria are the only NATO nations currently operating MiG-29s. Sofia has been struggling to maintain its fleet as it transitions to American F-16V jets, a process that is not expected to be fully completed until 2027. Bulgaria possesses 16 MiG-29s, but only a small fraction are currently airworthy due to the lack of spare parts resulting from EU sanctions on Russia.
The Polish government has faced a complex diplomatic puzzle regarding these Soviet-era jets. Previous attempts to negotiate a trade for Ukrainian drone technology faced setbacks, though recent reports suggest that discussions between Warsaw and Kyiv regarding the future of these aircraft are ongoing. Poland has also expressed willingness to assist with the modernization of these fighters, provided that the costs are covered by Ukraine or its international partners.
This incident highlights the broader difficulties within NATO in coordinating military support for Ukraine while simultaneously managing the modernization needs of member states. The reliance on legacy Soviet hardware remains a significant hurdle as the conflict persists. While Poland attempts to balance its internal defense requirements with its commitment to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, the urgency of the situation on the front lines remains the central factor in every decision made in Warsaw. As the war of attrition continues, the availability of these specific fighters could prove decisive for Ukrainian operations, making the resolution of this diplomatic request a matter of high strategic importance for the entire Western alliance.