Poland Refuses to Transfer MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

According to the minister, Poland and Ukraine had an agreement: Kyiv was to pass on to Warsaw its experience using drones on the battlefield. Kosiniak-Kamysz called this a symbolic but important gesture. In exchange, Poland was to transfer MiG fighter jets to Ukraine.

However, the minister claims, Ukraine first agreed and then withdrew from these arrangements.

“There will be no MiGs for Ukraine, because there are no drones—or, more precisely, capabilities in the field of drones—for Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

In the same interview, he commented on the scandal over one Armed Forces of Ukraine unit being named after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. According to Poland’s defense minister, Ukraine “will not enter the European Union with Bandera.”

“You cannot include in the pantheon of national heroes those who destroy European cooperation. With Bandera, Ukraine will not enter the European Union,” he said.

In December 2025, Poland’s General Staff reported that Warsaw and Kyiv were negotiating the transfer to Ukraine of six to eight MiG-29 fighter jets that were to be written off from the Polish army’s balance sheet.

Relations between Ukraine and Poland deteriorated after Volodymyr Zelensky in May assigned one Armed Forces of Ukraine unit the honorary name “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.” In Poland, the decision drew sharp criticism because of the involvement of UPA fighters in the Volhynia massacre of 1943–1944.