(Warsaw) Poland said it was ready on Tuesday evening to “hand over without delay and free of charge” all its Mig-29 planes to the disposal of the United States, which seeks to supply fighter planes to Ukraine.
Posted at 2:49 p.m.
“The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations with the President and the Government, are ready to move all its Mig-29 aircraft free of charge to the Ramstein base (in Germany) without delay and to place them at the disposal of the Government. of the United States,” the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry specifies that this statement is made “following a statement by the United States Secretary of State regarding the handover of aircraft to Ukraine”.
The Mig-29s, of Soviet design, could be piloted by Ukrainian pilots.
“At the same time, Poland is asking the United States to provide it with second-hand aircraft with the same operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately set the conditions for the acquisition of these machines,” the statement continued.
The Polish government also invites other NATO member states – owners of Mig-29 aircraft – to follow its example.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Moldova that the United States was “actively working” on a deal with Poland to send fighter jets to Ukraine to to fight the Russian invasion.