Slovakia expressed readiness to transfer 10 MIG-29 fighters to Ukraine. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Slovakia, Jaroslav Nagy, the AP agency reported.
According to the Slovak defense minister, the final decision should be made within a few days or weeks. If the MIG-29 transfer takes place, Slovakia will be the first NATO member country to supply combat aircraft to Ukraine.
Slovakia stopped using MIG fighters due to lack of spare parts and maintenance specialists.
As the UNIAN agency notes, to strengthen the air defense of Ukraine, not only air defense and missile defense systems are needed, but also combat aviation. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, emphasized that Ukraine needs fighter jets to launch a counteroffensive. Talks about providing Ukraine with combat aircraft have been going on for more than a month.
At the same time, the Italian mass media write that Italy can supply Ukraine with five combat aircraft. It is about Tornado and Amx. However, Italy does not want to be the first.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that his country is ready to hand over MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. But Poland will do this only as part of a wider coalition.