DrGermany has complied with the Polish government’s request for an export permit for five MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. This was announced Thursday by the German security services. The government departments in Berlin had confirmed earlier, „Today, a similar request was received from Poland to approve the delivery of five Soviet-designed combat aircraft from the stocks of former East Germany to Ukraine.” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius officially confirmed receipt of the request and announced the response on Thursday. Later he clarified: „It shows: you can count on Germany!” At first the Ministry of Defense in Warsaw did not want to comment on this.
After reunification in 1990, Germany captured 24 MiG-29s from the GDR. At the time, the aircraft was among the most modern combat aircraft in the world. In 2004, Berlin delivered 22 aircraft to Poland. Of the two remaining planes, one was destroyed in a crash and another is on display in a museum. Poland had already delivered MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. However, an export license is required for aircraft purchased from Germany.
The head of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, Michael Roth (SPD), called the decision on Twitter „responsible and solidarity – towards Poland, but above all towards Ukraine in its struggle for freedom”.
On the other hand, the leader of the left-wing faction Dietmar Bartsch made serious allegations against the federal government. „It’s a big mistake,” he said. „The federal government is crossing the next red line it has drawn itself.”
He confirmed that in a poll in the Bundestag in January, Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already ruled out the delivery of fighter jets. He criticized, „The federal government is playing a game of obfuscation with parliament and the public.” Countries like Brazil are calling for peace overtures, and the federal government is doing the opposite. Where is that supposed to lead? Ceasefire negotiations are necessary.
Polish President Duda said last week that his country has already delivered eight MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. He said after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Warsaw that four planes had been delivered to Kiev „over the past few months”. Four more MiG-29s were „recently” delivered to the neighboring country attacked by Russia. In addition, six MiG-29s are currently being prepared for delivery, Duda said.
Duda said other MiG-29s remained in service with the Polish Armed Forces for the time being. Only if they are successively replaced by modern combat aircraft, which Poland has already ordered in South Korea and the United States, these machines can also be left to Ukraine. In addition to Poland, Slovakia has already delivered four MiG-29s to Kiev.
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