Ukraine submits concrete proposal to exchange drones for Polish MiG-29s

She noted that the updated proposal from Ukraine entails Warsaw transferring its fighter jets to Kyiv in exchange for Ukrainian UAVs.

According to her, the Polish government is not considering any scenario in which Warsaw would fund the modernization of these fighter jets.

"A concrete response from the Ukrainian side regarding which drones they can provide in exchange for the MiG aircraft has been on the table for several days," Sobkowiak-Czerniecka confirmed.

She added that Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will make a final decision after analyzing the updated Ukrainian offer.

Decision will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Transfer of Polish fighter jets to Ukraine

On Dec. 10, 2025, AFU General Staff confirmed ongoing negotiations with Polish counterparts regarding the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft due to the expiration of their operational service life.

On Dec. 12, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar confirmed that Warsaw expected to receive combat-tested drone technologies in exchange for the aircraft; Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk clarified that discussions concerned 6 to 8 MiG-29s out of the 14 remaining in Poland's inventory.

In January 2026, Bodnar reported that the first four aircraft were ready for dispatch, with Kyiv expecting to receive approximately 10 jets in total.

However, on June 30, Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland will not transfer the MiG-29s to Ukraine: "I proposed a partnership approach: MiG fighters in exchange for drones. The Ukrainian side initially agreed, but the agreement was not fulfilled. Therefore, there will be no MiGs for Ukraine."

On July 12, situation shifted again: Poland stated its readiness to assist Ukraine with the modernization of MiG-29s, expecting to receive Ukrainian drone technologies in return.