After receiving promises from two nations for Soviet-era aircraft, the Kremlin has threatened to destroy any fighter airplanes provided to Ukraine by its allies.
On Friday, Slovakia pledged some MiG-29 aircraft to Kiev, becoming the second nation in NATO to do so after Poland. Slovakia stopped using its fleet of planes last year and grounded them.
Modern jets like the F-16 have been requested by Ukraine from Western nations, although these are only considered as long-term solutions because of the lengthy training requirements.
One year after Russia’s invasion, it views the additional aircraft as essential to its defenses and potential counterattacks. Other NATO nations are considering supplying MiGs, which Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly, and other Soviet-era aircraft. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, denounced the proposals.
On Friday, Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger tweeted that his government had approved sending the countrys13MiG-29s
He said “promises must be kept” and that he was glad others were answering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for more weapons.
He said Slovakia would also send Ukraine part of its Kub air defense system.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
