<p>Germany&nbsp;has approved&nbsp;Poland's request to&nbsp;export&nbsp;five&nbsp;old&nbsp;MiG-29&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to bolster&nbsp; Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Poland's defence ministry did not immediately comment.</p>

<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the request had arrived Thursday, and that Berlin's same-day approval showed that&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;could be relied upon.</p>

<p>Germany&nbsp;inherited 24 MiG-29&nbsp;jets&nbsp;from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;in the world.</p>

<p>In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to&nbsp;Poland. Of the remaining two&nbsp;jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show at a museum.</p>

<p>Poland&nbsp;needs Berlin's consent to send its remaining&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to a third country.</p>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Warsaw last week that&nbsp; Poland&nbsp;would help form a coalition of Western powers to supply warplanes to Kyiv.</p>

<p>Ukraine, which hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months, wants to secure&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;to defend against air strikes.</p>

<p>Western countries have so far been reluctant to send advanced&nbsp;fighter&nbsp;jets&nbsp;such as F-16's to Kyiv, but some countries have stepped in to send&nbsp;old&nbsp;MiG-29&nbsp;jets&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;already uses.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Germany has approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday.

Germany has approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power against the Russian invasion, the German defence ministry said on Thursday. Poland's defence ministry did not immediately comment. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the request had arrived Thursday, and that Berlin's same-day approval showed that Germany could be relied upon. Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show at a museum. Poland needs Berlin's consent to send its remaining jets to a third country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Warsaw last week that Poland would help form a coalition of Western powers to supply warplanes to Kyiv. Ukraine, which hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months, wants to secure fighter jets to defend against air strikes. Western countries have so far been reluctant to send advanced fighter jets such as F-16's to Kyiv, but some countries have stepped in to send old MiG-29 jets that Ukraine already uses. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Germany allows Poland to export old MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine

<p>The United States on Tuesday (March 8) rejected Poland's offer to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine via a US airbase, saying it was "not tenable" as the proposal raised "serious concerns" for the entire NATO alliance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Poland... is ready to deliver its Mig-29 planes to Ramstein airbase (in Germany) and make them available to the US for free and without delay," Warsaw said earlier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zbigniew Rau, Poland's foreign minister, had said that his government was "ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MiG-29 jets to the Ramstein airbase and place them at the disposal of the government of the United States of America".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intel-says-russia-may-escalate-invasion-despite-ukraine-setbacks-brands-vladimir-putin-angry-frustrated-460401">US intel says Russia may escalate invasion despite Ukraine setbacks, brands Vladimir Putin 'angry, frustrated'</a></strong></p>

<p>However, under a reported deal, Poland would receive F-16 fighters as replacements for the Soviet-era planes that Ukrainian pilots are trained on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the prospect of the jets flying from a US-NATO base "into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one," Kirby said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it," he added. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Kirby stressed that Washington's stance was that "the decision about whether to transfer Polish-owned planes to Ukraine is ultimately one for the Polish government."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-tank-man-to-snake-island-defenders-brave-stories-of-resistance-by-ukrainians-against-vladimir-putin-460353">What are Czech hedgehogs?: Homemade obstacles that can destroy Russian tanks</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it. We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one. (4/4)</p>
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec/status/1501336451195277314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Previously, US officials, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had downplayed the possibility of any NATO country supplying besieged Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While speaking in Moldova on Sunday, Blinken confirmed it was under active discussion&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Can't speak to a timeline, but I can just say we're looking at it very, very actively," he told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are looking actively now at the question of aeroplanes that Poland may provide to Ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should Poland decide to supply those planes," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine crisis: Will West's arms supply to Ukraine make any difference?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-crisis-will-wests-arms-supply-to-ukraine-make-any-difference-460408/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United States on Tuesday (March 8) rejected Poland's offer to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine via a US airbase, saying it was "not tenable" as the proposal raised "serious concerns" for the entire NATO alliance.

The United States on Tuesday (March 8) rejected Poland's offer to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine via a US airbase, saying it was "not tenable" as the proposal raised "serious concerns" for the entire NATO alliance. "Poland... is ready to deliver its Mig-29 planes to Ramstein airbase (in Germany) and make them available to the US for free and without delay," Warsaw said earlier. Zbigniew Rau, Poland's foreign minister, had said that his government was "ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MiG-29 jets to the Ramstein airbase and place them at the disposal of the government of the United States of America". ALSO READ | US intel says Russia may escalate invasion despite Ukraine setbacks, brands Vladimir Putin 'angry, frustrated' However, under a reported deal, Poland would receive F-16 fighters as replacements for the Soviet-era planes that Ukrainian pilots are trained on. Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the prospect of the jets flying from a US-NATO base "into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance." "We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one," Kirby said in a statement. "It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it," he added. Kirby stressed that Washington's stance was that "the decision about whether to transfer Polish-owned planes to Ukraine is ultimately one for the Polish government." IN PICS | What are Czech hedgehogs?: Homemade obstacles that can destroy Russian tanks It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it. We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one. (4/4) — John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) March 8, 2022 × Previously, US officials, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had downplayed the possibility of any NATO country supplying besieged Ukraine. While speaking in Moldova on Sunday, Blinken confirmed it was under active discussion "Can't speak to a timeline, but I can just say we're looking at it very, very actively," he told reporters. "We are looking actively now at the question of aeroplanes that Poland may provide to Ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should Poland decide to supply those planes," he said. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine crisis: Will West's arms supply to Ukraine make any difference? × (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine under attack: Here's why US rejected Poland's plan to offer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine

Robust upgrade for MIG-29 fighter jets, upgradation improves operating range for MIG- 29 jets, all planes are being modified only in India

Robust upgrade for MIG-29 fighter jets