Poland will not deliver MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine over drone technology dispute

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on the Polsat News program "Gość Wydarzeń" that Poland will not hand over its MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. The reason, he explained, is that Ukraine failed to follow through on an agreement to share drone technology.

The minister said he proposed a "partnership approach" based on the formula "MiGs for drones." According to him, Ukraine initially agreed but later withdrew from the arrangement. "That is why there will be no MiGs for Ukraine, because Poland does not have drones or the capability to use them," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

He acknowledged Ukraine's significant capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and argued that exchanging know-how and technology should be a key part of solidarity and bilateral military cooperation. "Ukraine has such significant drone capabilities that in response to the military equipment it receives, it could share its know-how and partly provide access to technology," the minister added.

Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that the current Polish government is much firmer in defending national interests in relations with Ukraine than its predecessor. However, he did not consider it a mistake that the previous government transferred military equipment to Ukraine at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion without any preconditions. "They acted correctly; I would have done the same. Ukraine was in a much more difficult situation then," he said.

Recall that in July 2024, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Warsaw, Ukraine and Poland signed a bilateral security agreement. The document provided for considering the transfer of a squadron of at least 14 Polish MiG-29 fighters after Poland receives new American-made F-35 jets. In late 2025 and early 2026, the Polish government was preparing another military aid package for Ukraine that included armored vehicles and MiG-29s. However, on June 15, 2026, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed the suspension of the transfer due to Ukraine's refusal to grant access to its military drone technology and counter-drone systems.