On December 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first official visit to Poland at the invitation of President Karol Nawrocki. Before this, the two leaders had been in contact by phone. The visit was initiated by the Polish side. The main topic of the planned talks is expected to be the transfer of Polish MiG-29 fighter jets and the strengthening of military cooperation.
MiG-29 and Pilot Shortages
The issue of Polish MiG-29s was one of the central topics discussed during the joint press conference. President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine primarily needs these aircraft due to the severe shortage of combat pilots and the existing experience of Ukrainian pilots in operating MiG-29s.
When a country is at war every day, every pilot is invaluable. We face a shortage of pilots. Training on F-16s takes years and temporarily removes experienced pilots from the front. In contrast, no additional training is needed for MiG-29s—our pilots are already trained. That is the essence of our request, Zelensky explained.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki confirmed that Warsaw is ready to consider transferring the fighter jets. However, he stressed the need to complete some formalities and to respect the principle of reciprocity in defense cooperation.
As follows from the principle of reciprocity, which we uphold, and from today’s meeting, which confirms it, it is clear that we aim for a symmetric strategic partnership. The future transfer of MiG-29s does not contradict our policy. Therefore, after completing the formalities, I believe this issue will be resolved, Nawrocki said.
Earlier, the Polish General Staff reported that Poland could transfer 6–8 MiG-29s to Ukraine. Poland plans to retire these jets from its military by the end of December.
Strategic Partnership and Regional Security
Nawrocki called Zelensky’s visit “good news for Warsaw and Kyiv, and bad news for Moscow.” According to him, the talks covered security, economic issues, and historical policy. President Zelensky emphasized the importance of mutual respect for historical memory:
We respect the Polish perspective, but we expect your respect for our memory. Every historical figure deserves proper recognition, he said.
Zelensky also informed partners that Ukraine had warned about the deployment of the Russian Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. He called for stronger sanctions against the companies supplying its components.
EU Financial Support
Before visiting Poland, Zelensky went to Brussels, where, after lengthy negotiations and resistance from some countries, EU leaders finally agreed to a €90 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, the funds will be used to cover budgetary and defense needs. Ukraine will only have to repay the loan after Russia compensates for the damages.
At the same time, preparations continue for a so-called reparations loan mechanism. Frozen Russian assets remain a reserve for potential repayment.
Conclusion
Discussions about the MiG-29 transfer show Ukraine’s effort to keep experienced pilots on the front line, as retraining for Western aircraft takes time. At the same time, the Polish president’s statement on resolving the issue after formalities demonstrates Warsaw’s political openness to deepening defense cooperation. Although no final agreements on the aircraft transfer have been reached yet, Kyiv and Warsaw are strengthening coordination in defense and technology exchange. This cooperation enhances regional security and improves the effectiveness of international support for Ukraine.
