Poland Offers MiG-29 Modernization to Ukraine Conditional on External Funding

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland is prepared to assist Ukraine in modernizing MiG-29 fighter jets, provided that all financial costs for the upgrades are covered by Kyiv or allied nations.

Speaking to Polsat News, Kosiniak-Kamysz outlined the Polish government’s position amid ongoing negotiations regarding the transfer of the aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Poland offers MiG-29 modernization to Ukraine

“We are open to discussion: if Ukraine sees the need to modernize the MiG-29 aircraft, we can help with this as much as possible,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “But the costs fall on Ukraine or on allied countries that want to cover them.”

The offer for modernization assistance is part of broader bilateral talks wherein Poland aims to secure access to Ukrainian drone and missile technologies in exchange for the fighter jets.

The defense minister called for the adherence to the principle of “reciprocity and genuine solidarity,” pointing out Ukraine’s production capacity for unmanned aerial vehicles and its sales of these systems to the Middle East. He noted that there is progress in the negotiations regarding this technological exchange.

In December 2025, the Polish General Staff confirmed on X that talks with the Ukrainian side regarding the MiG-29 transfer are actively proceeding, though a final decision has not yet been reached.

According to the General Staff, the potential transfer is linked to the MiG-29s nearing the limit of their operational life within the Polish Air Force, coupled with a lack of domestic prospects for their further modernization.

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The Polish military stated that these aircraft will be replaced by newer F-16 and FA-50 fighters, which are already integrated into operational tasks.

The General Staff also confirmed the parallel discussions regarding Polish access to Ukrainian drone technologies, describing it as a compensation mechanism for the aircraft and a foundation for joint defense and industrial development between the two countries.