Slovakia is ready to launch its Soviet-type fighter aircraft MiG-29 to Ukraine so that it can better defend itself against the Russian invasion. After Prime Minister Eduard Heger formulated these considerations in a press conference with Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, he spoke Heger in an interview with political from “a very intense discussion” with the US and other allies about how to secure their own airspace. Slovakia is scheduled to receive US jets of the type in 2024 F-16 received and demanded security guarantees.
According to Heger, who was in Ukraine with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, they can MiG-29 cannot be maintained without individual parts from Russia, but his country does not want such a “relationship”. In addition, the government in Kyiv would have to order aircraft and howitzers of the type zuzana asked. “If this material is useful anywhere, it’s in Ukraine,” Heger told the newspaper sme The EU must help Ukraine “until it wins”.
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A debate is returning that had been a topic for NATO and the EU a month ago. At that time, Poland had offered its MiG-29 and wanted to have them delivered to the Ukraine via the US base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. The US Department of Defense immediately rejected this, because the nuclear power Russia could see the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine by a NATO member as an escalation. The defense alliance wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Moscow at all costs, so the delivery of MiG-29 unlike those of tanks as too risky.
Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to be supported with heavy equipment. During his visit to Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged 120 armored vehicles and more anti-ship missiles. Shortly before London had already pledged military aid worth almost 120 million euros: 800 anti-tank weapons, precision guided ammunition and modern anti-aircraft missiles of the type star streak with a range of seven kilometers. These supplement the Soviet air defense system S-300, which extends more than 100 kilometers. Slovakia just gave one to Ukraine. In NATO, Bulgaria and Greece still have S-300-Systems. Here, too, the US is likely to exert friendly pressure.
US reports of “some countries” handing over tanks to Ukraine
For the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine that is feared in the next few weeks, Kyiv is demanding not only hundreds of armored vehicles but also battle tanks – and is apparently getting them. A US Department of Defense official spoke on Tuesday night “Tanks Delivered to Ukraine by Some Countries” be. This is mainly equipment that Ukrainian soldiers already know and can repair, and that is available in large numbers in Eastern and Central European countries. According to reports, the United States is ready to replace these systems with new material – and quickly.
The most well-known example are the battle tanks of the type T-72, the delivery of which the Czech Republic announced at the beginning of April. What this step means is shown in a comment by Lithuania’s Deputy Defense Minister Margiris Abukevicius in the Washington Post: “It’s hard to be the first to send tanks. But once someone breaks the ice, it becomes much easier.” Like Slovakia, the Czech Republic is also ready to repair Ukrainian equipment. Poland also has numerous T-72-tanks, but corresponding handovers are not confirmed. According to military experts, additional T-64-Models of Ukraine help. The Pentagon official declined to reveal which other countries are supplying tanks. However, he spoke of “eight to ten flights” going from the United States to the region every day, and that convoys carrying military aid overland to Ukraine have been “almost constantly” for weeks.
The Pentagon official did not give details, but so far there have been hardly any problems with weapons transport. In addition to numerous anti-tank missiles of the type FGM-148 Javelinwhose missiles are guided to the target via a heat-seeking infrared sensor and can destroy modern battle tanks, the USA are now also supporting Ukraine with aircraft of the type puma and armored vehicles. The official also confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers were trained in the US to switchblade– Operate drones. They can lunge at an object and explode, or be able to search for targets on their own.