Poland rejects Ukraine's request to support fighter jets

Polish media Polskier Radio and others reported on the 7th local time that the Polish government has rejected Ukraine's request to support fighter jets because it has no weapons to give.

"We supported everything possible," Polish Defense Minister Vwadysław Kosiniakkamysi told a news conference, adding that he had handed over as much military equipment as possible within the limits allowed by his country's security situation.

"Ukraine's criticism of why it does not give more fighter jets and other equipment is unfounded," he said, adding that Poland's security will be considered first in supporting Ukraine's weapons.

Poland provided Ukraine with a significant number of former Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets at the beginning of the war.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in July that he could consider providing additional Soviet-made fighters to Ukraine if they could be replaced by new ones.

Ukraine has since consistently demanded that Poland hand over more MiG in its possession.

Poland is reluctant to deliver F-35 fighter jets ordered from Lockheed Martin in the U.S. from 2026, saying that giving up the MiG flag right now would open a hole in its defense of its airspace.

Poland has supported about 300 tanks and various heavy weapons and fighter jets since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

Poland's military aid is the eighth-largest among its supporters, both in amount and as a percentage of GDP, according to a tally by Germany's Keel World Economic Research Institute.