Slovakia may transfer ten MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine

Slovakia considers transferring 10 of 11 soviet MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine.

The state got rid of its soviet-era planes a year ago, says the state's defense minister Jaroslav Nad in an interview with AP. 

"We will never use the MiGs anymore. They have no real value for us. If we give them to Ukraine, they can help save their lives." the minister said.

Nad added Slovakia is considering giving Ukraine 10 of its 11 soviet-made MiG-29 planes — with the 11th reserved for a Slovakian museum.

A final decision is expected within days or weeks. If Slovakia agrees, it will be the first NATO member to do so.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly requested the planes from Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger at a European Union summit in Brussels this month.

Nad stressed that his country responded to Ukraine's need for arms despite a long-term political crisis that resulted in the government's fall in December after a no-confidence vote.

According to official data, since February 2022, Slovakia has provided arms to Ukraine for a total amount of almost 168 million euros.

We are talking about S-300 anti-aircraft missile complexes, helicopters, thousands of missiles for the Grad multiple-launch fire systems, and dozens of armored vehicles.