---
title: "MiG-29 Negotiations: Ukraine Demands Not Just Aircraft, But Also Service. Why Did the Deal with Poland Hit a Dead End?"
description: "Ukraine and Poland continue negotiations on the transfer of MiG-29s, but the deal has hit a dead end due to repair conditions. Kyiv demands that Warsaw pay for the modernization of the aircraft and provide service equipment. In return, Poland may receive Ukrainian drones. 🇺🇦✈️🇵🇱"
date: 2026-07-18T12:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-poland-mig-29-negotiations-repair-conditions
tags: [ukraine, poland, mig-29, kosiniak-kamysz, defense]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# MiG-29 Negotiations: Ukraine Demands Not Just Aircraft, But Also Service. Why Did the Deal with Poland Hit a Dead End?

![Polish MiG-29 fighter jet taking off, symbolizing the complex negotiations between Ukraine and Poland regarding aircraft transfer and maintenance services](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/18/ukraina-polsha-mig-29-peregovory-usloviya-remonta/ukraina-polsha-mig-29-peregovory-usloviya-remonta-1.webp)

The dialogue between Kyiv and Warsaw regarding the transfer of military aviation has gone beyond a simple exchange of fighters. According to official sources, Ukraine is interested in receiving not only the aircraft themselves but also a full complex of equipment for their maintenance, as well as technical documentation.

RBC-Ukraine, citing a response from the country's Ministry of Defense, reports that negotiations are ongoing, confirming recent statements by Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz about the resumption of contacts.

### Technical Inspection and Identified Problems

A key stage in this process was the technical inspection conducted in the autumn of 2025. Representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) personally inspected 14 Polish MiG-29s. The results of the inspection were disappointing: experts noted that the fighters are in unsatisfactory condition.

The condition of the landing gear and the consequences of long-term lack of proper maintenance caused the greatest concern. According to Ukrainian experts, the aircraft need serious repairs before they can be put into operation.

### Financial Deadlock: Who Pays for Repairs?

The Ukrainian side put forward a clear condition: they are ready to accept the equipment only on the condition of its major repair and modernization. At the same time, Kyiv expected that these works would be carried out at the Polish enterprise WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz, with costs fully covered by Warsaw.

However, for the Ministry of Defense of Poland, such a scenario proved unacceptable. Modernization of Soviet fighters requires significant additional investments, which were not included in current political decisions and budgets. It was precisely this financing issue that caused a near-complete halt in the negotiation process in the past.

### Drones as Currency for Exchange

Despite disagreements, the parties continue to seek a compromise. One of the promising options remains the exchange: fighters in exchange for Ukrainian technologies. Poland has shown specific interest in various types of Ukrainian unmanned systems, which could become part of a future agreement.

Previously, media reports appeared stating that Warsaw considered the possibility of simply writing off its MiG-29s instead of transferring them, citing difficult conditions. However, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that an official request from Kyiv has been received, and the Polish side sees chances for a positive outcome.

Thus, the issue of aircraft transfer remains open, depending on the resolution of technical and financial issues, as well as on how valuable Ukrainian developments in the field of unmanned aviation will turn out to be for Warsaw.