Strengthening air defense, drone development and aviation: Ukraine and Poland deepen defense cooperation - Fedorov
Drone Industry
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held talks with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, during which they discussed strengthening defense cooperation.
Fedorov reported this on Telegram, Censor.NET says.
Support for Ukraine
"I thanked our partners for their strategic support for Ukraine. Poland plays a key logistical role - about 90% of international assistance comes through its territory, including aid to strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience," the minister noted.
Key areas of cooperation
As noted, the parties focused on the following areas of cooperation:
- Joint defense projects and European mechanisms.
- Fedorov thanked Poland for participating in PURL and for its readiness to jointly implement defense projects with a focus on drone development. He separately noted the role of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC) in Poland as a platform to analyze wartime experience, exchange knowledge, and implement NATO standards.
- Strengthening "short-range" air defense.
- Polish technologies are already an important part of Ukraine’s "short-range" air defense. We are ready to further develop cooperation and expand radar coverage.
- Aviation capabilities.
- The sides also discussed the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine - an important element in protecting Ukraine’s skies. Poland already transferred such fighter jets in 2023. We will work together on modernizing them to improve effectiveness and strike enemy targets.
Exchange of experience
Fedorov also noted that Ukraine, for its part, is ready to share Ukrainian solutions, particularly in countering Shahed drones. Battlefield data and practical experience can be useful for strengthening the capabilities of the Polish military.
"I thank Poland for fruitful cooperation and support for Ukraine from the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion," he added.
Background
- Previously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Poland was refusing to transfer MiG-29 aircraft, although Ukraine had agreed with NATO on sending Alliance aircraft to Poland in exchange.
- Later, the country’s Foreign Ministry responded that Poland would transfer its MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine when it receives replacements from allies.
- Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Poland would transfer the rest of its MiG-29s to Ukraine when allies guarantee the security of the country’s airspace.
- In turn, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that among the countries helping Ukraine, Poland has done more for Ukraine relative to GDP than any other country.
