Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski is set to travel to Warsaw on December 19 to receive 14 MiG‑29 fighters from Poland, while Poland seeks drone‑technology transfers and positions itself as a security guarantor.
Zelenski to Receive MiG‑29
The Ukrainian President plans to travel to Warsaw on 19 December, coinciding with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government decision to hand Ukraine 14 MiG‑29s, whose operating resources will become limited, and a specified number of retired Su‑22 assault aircraft with modified wing geometry. Dziennik Gazeta Prawna notes that in similar situations—such as when Ukraine obtained F‑16s from the Netherlands—Zelenski personally received the aircraft. In exchange for transferring the aircraft to Ukraine, Poland would receive drone technology.
Poland as Ukraine’s Security Guarantor?
At the same time, talks with the United States about a ceasefire continue. Ukrainians would agree to demilitarization of Donbas only if Ukrainian territories occupied by Russians were also demilitarized. Zelenski demands an immediate halt to weapon deployment along the entire front and a security guarantee from the United States, which would take the form of a bilateral agreement ratified by Congress. The newspaper adds that Poland would be one of Ukraine’s security guarantors. Last week, Zelenski said that the Polish side had offered him a visit on 19 December, which he would accept, declaring the importance of maintaining relations with Poland and expressing gratitude for the support and good neighbours.
Dispute Over Aircraft Transfer
The issue of handing 14 MiG‑29s to Ukraine sparked another dispute between the government and the president. Last week, the head of the President’s Office of International Policy, Marcin Przydacz, told journalists that the Ukrainian side learned about the transfer plans of Soviet‑era fighters through media reports. National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz said that the president’s representatives had participated in talks about the aircraft transfer, and the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that Nawrocki’s associates were present during the meetings, as per the minutes.
