Warsaw has officially stated the reasons why the transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine has not yet taken place. The focus is not only on the technical aspects of upgrading the equipment but also on internal political struggles, in which Polish President Karol Nawrocki plays a key role.
Technical and financial obstacles
Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland Paweł Zalewski revealed details of the situation in an interview with the RMF24 radio station. According to him, the Ukrainian side is not interested in receiving the aircraft in their current condition. Kyiv is counting on adapting the equipment to modern combat conditions, however, the question of who will cover the costs of modernization remains open.
«I am convinced that the Ukrainians would like these MiGs to be adapted to more modern combat conditions. And on our side, there is no agreement on covering the costs», — noted the vice-minister.
In addition, the transfer of fighters was supposed to be part of a broader agreement, including an exchange of technologies in the field of drones. Negotiations on this issue have not yet been completed, which also slows down the process.
Political factor: the role of President Nawrocki
However, according to Zalewski, the main reason for the delay lies not in technology, but in politics. The vice-minister directly pointed to President Karol Nawrocki as one of the main obstacles to the implementation of the agreement.
«President Nawrocki believes that inciting anti-Ukrainian sentiments is a good way to win voters' votes. This is very harmful to Poland», — he stated.
Earlier, in December 2025, Nawrocki publicly stated that the decision to transfer the aircraft was made without his approval, which caused a resonance and became a reason for criticism of the government.
Response to ultimatums from the Law and Justice party
Zalewski also commented on the statement by politician Przemysław Czarnek from the Law and Justice party, who proposed suspending aid to Ukraine if Kyiv does not change the name of one of the military units.
«So how does he see the further defense of Ukraine? How does he see the protection of our interests, which are currently being defended on the Russian-Ukrainian front? The Polish line of security is not the border between Poland and Ukraine. It is the Russian-Ukrainian front», — emphasized the vice-minister.
Thus, Warsaw emphasizes that Poland's security directly depends on the stability on the eastern front, and any attempts to politicize military aid damage national interests.