RUSSIA’S WAR ON UKRAINE

Poland transfers MiG fighters to the U.S. as Ukraine asks for help

The announcement Tuesday came after a week of back-and-forth negotiations about the transfer.

Two Polish Air Force Russian-made Mig 29's fly above and below two Polish Air Force U.S.-made F-16's fighter jets during an air show in Radom, Poland, Aug. 27, 2011. | Alik Keplicz/AP Photo

By PAUL MCLEARY

03/08/2022 02:22 PM EST

Poland has struck a deal with the United States to transfer all of its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets “immediately and free of charge” to a U.S. air base in Germany, a likely precursor to the jets being delivered to Ukraine.

The announcement Tuesday came after a week of back-and-forth negotiations about the transfer, and amid Russian warnings that delivering the jets to Ukraine would be seen as a provocation.

In a statement, the Polish Foreign Ministry said Warsaw “requests the United States to provide us with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately establish the conditions of purchase of the planes.”