Russia warns to destroy all fighters transferred to Ukraine

Nga cảnh báo phá hủy tất cả tiêm kích chuyển cho Ukraine - 1 — MiG-29 aircraft operating in Slovakia in 2016 (Photo: Shutterstock).

"As we have repeatedly stated, the supply of these aircraft will certainly not affect the outcome of the special military operation, but will only cause more suffering for Ukraine itself and its people," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on March 17.

According to Mr Peskov, Poland's plan to supply MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine is another proof that many NATO countries, including Poland, are "increasingly involved in the conflict".

"Naturally, these planes will be destroyed in a special military operation," Mr. Peskov warned.

On the same day, the Russian Embassy in Bratislava said Slovakia's transfer of Soviet- and Russian-made weapons to Ukraine was illegal.

"The transfer of Soviet- and Russian-made weapons to Kiev is illegal from a legal point of view, because the relevant Russian-Slovak agreements explicitly prohibit any transfer of weapons and military equipment to third countries without the consent of the country of origin," the Russian Embassy said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced on March 16 that in the coming days, Poland will hand over four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. According to President Duda, these are MiG-29 jets that Poland received from Germany in the 1990s and although their lifespan has expired, they are still in normal operation.

Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced today that the government has approved a plan to provide Ukraine with 13 MiG-29 fighters and part of the 2K12 Kub medium-range air defense system. This decision makes Slovakia the second NATO member to commit to providing fighter jets to Ukraine after Poland.

Poland has been one of the NATO members that has strongly supported Kiev since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine last February. With the decision to transfer MiG-29s to Ukraine, Poland will become the first NATO country to provide fighter jets to support Kiev in its conflict with Russia despite Moscow's previous warnings.

Poland's decision could serve as a catalyst for other NATO countries to consider supplying fighter jets to Kiev. However, the White House said yesterday that Poland's move does not mean the US will also provide F-16s to Ukraine.

The US and its allies such as Germany, France and the UK are still concerned that providing fighter jets to Kiev will increase the risk of direct confrontation with Russia. These countries have only stopped at providing combat tanks, air defense systems and ammunition. They believe that ammunition is the most urgent need for Ukraine at the moment.

The supply of NATO fighter jets to Ukraine and their maintenance on the territory of the alliance's countries would be considered NATO's direct involvement in the conflict with Russia, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on March 2. Moscow considers foreign-supplied weapons to Kiev to be legitimate military targets.

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