Poland considers delivering MiG-29 to Ukraine and is ready to join F-16 coalition – Duda

Polish President Andrzej Duda said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

In particular, Duda said that training an F-16 pilot is a long-term process: "Training Ukrainian pilots requires many months."

Instead, Ukrainian pilots are "ready to fly MiG-29 or Su almost immediately".

"In fact, they could fly them home right away. So, no doubt, if the MiG-29s are delivered, they will be able to immediately strengthen Ukraine's defense, and this is very important. Of course, very few NATO countries have MiG aircraft. We still have a few such aircraft, and we will consider this issue," Duda said.

According to him, there is a "problem" with Poland providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters, as there are "simply not enough of them in Poland, given the scale and overall potential of the country."

He said that Poland is currently waiting for F-35 and FA-50 aircraft purchased from the United States and South Korea.

"This is a difficult moment for us, because we are waiting for the warplanes ourselves. Of course, if a broad aviation coalition is created among NATO countries, we will certainly join it. But we have to discuss the formula for this with our allies," the Polish president added.

• Last year, in March, Poland was ready to hand over its MiG-29 fighter jets, as requested by Ukraine. At the same time, it asked the United States to provide it with replacement aircraft, but Washington rejected this idea.

• In September, Poland signed a contract to purchase 48 Korean FA-50s instead of Soviet Sukhoi and MiG fighters.