Germany has given its approval to Poland’s request to transfer five Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, as Ukraine continues to seek advanced weaponry to defend itself against Russian aggression. The decision was made after Poland sought permission from Germany, as the receiving country of the aircraft, to send them on to Ukraine.
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Nicky Boogaard from Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Poland had already provided eight MiG-29s to Ukraine, with President Andrzej Duda recently announcing that Poland would be sending additional jets from old East German stocks. The transfer was only made possible due to German rules which require approval from Berlin for the sale of weapons that may be subsequently transferred to a third country.
The decision was welcomed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who stated that “this shows Germany can be relied on!” He added that while it makes sense to send these MiGs to Ukraine, Germany’s decision does not indicate a change in policy on supplying Western-made jets. According to Pistorius, the MiG-29s can be deployed by Ukrainian forces immediately, as they are known, and can be flown without the need for a transition period, with maintenance and repair services also readily available.
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