Following Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, historical political taboos are falling not only in Germany but throughout the EU: for the first time in its history, the Union will send weapons to a country under attack. The support, amounting to almost 500 million euros, is to be financed by the so-called “European Peace Facility”.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in response to questions after a press conference on February 27 that member states will supply Ukraine not only with ammunition but also with fighter jets. “The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba has asked us, they need the kind of combat aircraft that the Ukrainian army can operate. And we know what kind of aircraft, some member states have this kind of aircraft,” Borell said in a reference to Soviet-era jets still owned by Eastern European countries. Ukraine’s fighter jets are Soviet-built MiG and Sukhoi models. Some EU members that were part of the Warsaw Pact still fly such aircraft (Poland) or have old ones parked (Hungary – see picture at the top, Slovakia). https://militaeraktuell.at/deutscher-ponyhof-wird-zur-kavalleriekaserne/ However, it is unclear how weapons and other material worth half a billion euros – i.e. enormous quantities – are supposed to reach the Ukrainian troops undamaged, especially as there is a possible threat of attacks on the transports by the Russian air force at any time. Ukraine’s western borders are still open, said Borrell, and Poland has agreed to act as a “logistical center” for the transfer of military and other aid supplies.
“Від наших західних партнерів для авіації Повітряних Сил Збройних Сил України надійшла велика партія ракет класу “повітря-повітря”. Вони уже під крилами наших винищувачів.
Льотчики запевняють, що на всіх окупантів вистачить! https://t.co/l03LlBCdxc pic.twitter.com/6RCkDkdD2K– Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) February 27, 2022
Ukraine could also “pick up” some of them itself: on the second day of the conflict, three Ukrainian Il-76s flew from Lviv to Poland, after which the Ukrainian General Staff tweeted that it had increased its stocks of air-to-air missiles. “They are already under the wings of our fighters. Our pilots say there are enough for all the occupiers.” 
Denials from the relevant “NATO Eastern Flank states”
Josep Borrell’s comment has subsequently provoked discussion and skepticism in air force circles, as some of the jets in question would still be active in Slovakia (picture left MiG-29s) or Bulgaria. Although their replacement by F-16/70s has been initiated, it is not foreseeable until 2024 or 2025. Correspondingstatements have now been made by several of the countries mentioned. However, nowhere are later transfers as spare parts reserves ruled out.
