EU Pledges Fighter Jet Transfers to Ukraine

EU Pledges Fighter Jet Transfers to Ukraine
Tony Osborne February 27, 2022

Poland still operates the MiG-29. Some could be transferred to Ukraine as part of a new €450 million package of so-called lethal aid.
Credit: Tony Osborne / Aviation Week

The European Union (EU) has said it will provide fighter jets to Ukraine as part of a €450 million ($502.3 million) support package of lethal aid.

European foreign ministers agreed to the package, along with an additional €50 million in nonlethal equipment, after an informal meeting on Feb. 27.

The package is separate from equipment already pledged by individual nations.

Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Commission’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told journalists that Europe was responding to requests from Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for equipment that the country’s armed forces can operate.

This will be the first time in history that the EU will be providing lethal equipment to a third country.

“We are going to provide even fighter jets. We are not just talking about ammunition. We are providing the most important arms,” Fontelles said. “We know what kind of planes and some member states have these kinds of planes.”

Ukraine is currently operating both the RAC MiG-29 fighter and the Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft, and both types are still flying today in the inventories of EU member states.

Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia are still operating the MiG-29, while Bulgaria is also flying the Su-25.

All three nations are preparing to phase out the Russian types from service in the coming years. Bulgaria and Slovakia are purchasing the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70, while Poland is introducing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Fontelles said Poland had also offered to act as the logistics hub for the aid to be transferred into Ukraine, particularly as the country’s western borders with Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia remain open.

The EU support adds to the weapons, equipment and humanitarian aid already being sent by more than 20 countries and NATO members.

In addition to lethal support, the EU has also decided to stop all Russian commercial flights and business jets from operating in EU airspace. It is also looking to stop Russian disinformation efforts across the EU with plans to stop Kremlin-funded news services such Russia Today and Sputnik from broadcasting.