Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Qassam Brigades: We will hand over the body of one of the occupation prisoners that was exhumed today in the Gaza Strip at 9 pm Gaza time.
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: One martyr and one wounded in the initial toll of an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Al-Bayyad.
Local sources report that a car bomb explosion has targeted the General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.

Slovakia to donate 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine: PM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Mar 2023 00:01
3 Min Read

Slovakia says it will be donating 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, joining Poland as the second NATO member to send the aircraft to Kiev.

  • x
  • Slovak Air Force MiG-29s fly over an airport during an airshow in Malacky, Slovakia, August 27, 2022 (AP)
    Slovak Air Force MiG-29s fly over an airport during an airshow in Malacky, Slovakia, August 27, 2022 (AP)

Bratislava said Friday that the country would donate 13 MiG-29 warplanes to Ukraine, becoming another NATO member, second only to Poland, to pledge the aircraft to Ukraine in light of the ongoing war.

"We will hand over 13 of our MiG-29 jets to Ukraine," Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger told journalists. Moreover, he revealed that Bratislava would also deliver a Kub air defense system to Kiev.

"We're giving these MiGs to Ukraine so that it can protect civilians against the many bombs that fall on their houses and which are the reason why people are dying in Ukraine," Heger said.

This comes after Polish President Andrzej Duda said Thursday that Warsaw would send four MiG-29 jets to Ukraine within a few days.

"We can safely say that we are also sending MiG jets to Ukraine. We have more than ten of them in stock at the moment," Duda said at a press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel, adding that four fighters will be provided "literally in the coming days."

The West has had Ukraine knocking at its door for months demanding fighter jets. However, the Soviet-made MiG-29 is not at the top of Kiev's wishlist, as it is mainly seeking the US-made F-16s.

"Our steps are fully coordinated with Poland and Ukraine," Heger underlined, highlighting that his government "stands on the right side of history".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday thanked Slovakia for the "power package of air & air defense weapons, including MiG aircraft."

Related News

US debt burden set to surpass Italy’s IMF warns

Trump rules out vice presidency bid in 2028

Kiev, according to the World Air Forces 2023 report by Flight Global released at the end of 2022, has been operating 43 MiG-29s.

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed that the fighter jets given to Ukraine by Poland and Slovakia would be destroyed.

"The supply of this military equipment - as we have repeatedly said - will not change the outcome of the special military operation... Of course, all this equipment will be destroyed," Peskov told journalists.

According to the Slovakian prime minister, Bratislava will receive compensation for the donation from the European Peace Facility, the EU's fund for Ukraine.

The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced last week that a new three-pillar aid plan for Ukraine, which provides for the supply of weapons from the bloc's stockpiles, an increase in the EU's defense production, and the allotment of EU budget funds to speed up defense manufacturing. 

The European Peace Facility is a funding mechanism worth 8 billion euros and is expected to fund reimbursements to EU donors and new purchases with 2 billion euros.

Diplomats informed EUobserver that on Friday in Brussels, ambassadors would finalize the agreement so that leaders can announce it at a summit the following week.

Earlier last week, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced on March 9 the decision to supply Kiev with a new batch of 10 Leopard 2 tanks. 

"We have transferred another 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine," Blaszczak told journalists, noting that other NATO member-states will soon send their tanks to Ukraine, including eight tanks from Canada, eight from Norway, and six from Spain. 

  • United States
  • Poland
  • Nato
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • Today

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS