CNN —
Poland on Thursday promised to send four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, the first NATO member to do so, marking a significant step in Kiev’s fight against the Russian attack.
President Andrzej Duda said the planes — out of about a dozen it inherited from the former German Democratic Republic — would be handed over after maintenance in the coming days.
“Regarding the MiG-29 aircraft, which are still used to defend Polish airspace, a decision was made at the highest level, we can confidently say that we will send MiGs to Ukraine,” Duda said.
Warsaw has taken a leading role among NATO allies in supplying Kiev with heavy weapons. The announcement that Poland will send the Soviet-designed planes is a step beyond the alliance’s other commitments and could put pressure on other member states to do the same. Other NATO allies have been reluctant to go far beyond a decision earlier this year to send tanks to Kiev, and the US insisted on Thursday Poland’s move would not compel Washington to act.
At a press conference in Warsaw with his new Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, the Polish President expressed both countries’ joint support for Kiev.
“The Czech Republic and Poland are countries that are at the absolute pinnacle in supporting Ukraine, both on a humanitarian and military level,” President Duda said.
Poland was one of the most vocal European nations against Russia – even before invading Ukraine. Russia is still seen in the context of the Cold War by many in Poland’s political and diplomatic circles. Putin has always been viewed as untrustworthy by Warsaw and Russia expansion must be fought at all costs. It is one of the few NATO countries legally required to meet its 2% of GDP defense spending and is an active member of the European defense community.
The deployment of MiGs is not an unexpected step for Poland and fully corresponds to its membership in NATO. It could change the dynamics within the alliance and act as a catalyst for more countries, or anger countries opposed to greater NATO involvement in the conflict, such as Hungary.
The biggest question will be whether it will put pressure on the UK and US, who will then do the same for Germany. Ultimately, it was probably Poland’s intention to put this pressure on other allies.
The White House said Thursday that Poland’s decision to send the fighter jets was a “sovereign decision” that will not spur President Joe Biden to send F-16s.
“It doesn’t change our calculus regarding F-16s,” said John Kirby, a senior official with the US National Security Council.
“These are sovereign choices that every country must make and we respect those sovereign choices,” he said, later adding, “They determine not only what they give, but how they characterize it.”
“I don’t think it’s up to us to characterize Poland’s decision one way or another,” Kirby said, declining to support the decision.
Biden, who earlier this year said he would not send US warplanes to Ukraine, will not be swayed by Poland’s decision, he said.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his country would provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks in January, bowing to mounting international pressure led by the United States, Poland and a bloc of other European nations who have called on Berlin to provide its military support to reinforce and commit to sending their coveted vehicles.
The announcement was complemented by the US, with President Joe Biden saying he would provide Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks, reversing the government’s longstanding opposition to requests from Kiev for the sophisticated but high-maintenance vehicles.
In addition to tanks, Ukraine is also pushing for the US to provide fighter jets, arguing that they need the planes to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
But that push has been met with skepticism by US and allied officials, who say the jets would be impractical because they require considerable training and Russia has extensive anti-aircraft systems that could easily shoot them down.
US and European officials have previously told CNN that F-16 fighter jets are impractical in this situation. Germany completely ruled out deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine, while British government officials echoed the sentiment, saying they didn’t think sending jets to Ukraine was practical.
Meanwhile, Polish authorities announced on Thursday that nine people belonging to an alleged spy ring suspected of “collaborating” with Russia’s FSB intelligence agency had been arrested.
Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński said those arrested were “foreigners from across the eastern border”.
“The suspects conducted intelligence activities against Poland and prepared acts of sabotage at the request of Russian intelligence,” the minister said.
Kamiński revealed that prosecutors charged six people with espionage and participation in an organized criminal group.
The court has ordered pre-trial detention for the six people, he said, adding that criminal proceedings are pending against the three arrested on Wednesday.
“There is evidence that the group monitored railway lines. His tasks included recognizing, monitoring and documenting arms transports to Ukraine,” said the minister.
“The suspects should also prepare for sabotage activities aimed at crippling supplies of equipment, weapons and supplies to Ukraine,” Kamiński continued.